The Federal Ministry of Health has issued a statement affirming
that all Coca Cola products manufactured in Nigeria are safe for
consumption.
Recall that a court in Lagos last week ordered NAFDAC to warn Nigerians against taking Coca
Cola and Fanta with Vitamin C as the substances used in the production
of the soft drinks in Nigeria are harmful to the body when taken along
with Vitamin C (Read here). Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, ordered an investigation and the findings have been published. Read after the cut...
Background
Arising
from the recent court judgement on the case filed by Fijabi Holdings
and another versus Nigeria Bottling Company and NAFDAC (joined as a
nominal party), the Honourable Minister of Health summoned a meeting of
the Department of Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health,
National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the related
issues.
The following were the findings:
1.
Both Benzoic acid and Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients
approved by International Food Safety regulators and used in many food
and beverage products around the world.
2. Are levels of additives introduced as preservatives within specification?
·
Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the organ established by Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World
Health Organization (WHO) to set internationally recognized standards,
codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production, and
food safety.
· In the case of Benzoic acid, the standard set by Codex was 600mg/kg until recently reviewed to 250mg/kg and adopted in 2016. (CODEX STAN 192–1995 revised 2015 and 2016).
·
With reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents,
Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the standard setting body in
Nigeria in consultation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders
elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at
250mg/kg based on the National climatic and storage conditions. This
standard has been in existence since 1997 and revised in 2008. (NIS 217:2008)
·
The levels of benzoic acid in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches)
presented by the claimant in the court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and
161.5mg/kg respectively.
· These levels are in compliance with both the Codex and Nigeria Industrial Standards.
3. Are Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria safe for consumption?
· Yes, the Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria are safe for consumption in view of the following reasons:
a. Risk assessment was conducted to ascertain maximum limits of food additives acceptable in foods.
b.
This takes into consideration the environmental, storage and
distribution conditions as well as the shelf life of food products.
c.
NAFDAC and SON regularly monitor the manufacturing practices of Food
industries and conduct laboratory analysis to ascertain continuous
compliance with required national standards.
d.
There was a routine inspection conducted at Nigeria Bottling Company by
NAFDAC officers in December, 2016 which was satisfactory.
4. Why is there difference between the standard of Fanta and Sprite in Nigeria and the United Kingdom?
·
With reference to the Codex standards, each country or region is
permitted to adapt a standard/limit based on country specific scientific
evidence such as environmental, storage and distribution conditions.
·
Benzoic acid as a preservative prevents the growth of microorganisms
which thrive more at higher climatic temperatures like in Nigeria.
·
Due to the different environmental conditions obtainable in the UK, the
standard for benzoic acid was set at a lower limit of 150mg/kg while in
Nigeria it was set at 250mg/kg even below that of Codex (as at time of
production of that batch; Codex limit was 600mgkg).
·
Food products being imported into a country must comply with the
relevant standards of the destination country. NAFDAC has processes in
place to ensure products imported into the country are evaluated to
ascertain compliance with required Nigeria Industrial Standards.
- The claimant did not obtain NAFDAC certification before export, otherwise, he would have been advised on the required standard of the destination country.
Advisory
5.
In view of the above, we would like to advise all Nigerians to take
medicines with potable water. This would help to prevent unexpected
drug-food interactions.
6.
For the benefit of the health of all Nigerians, all bottling companies
are encouraged to insert advisory warnings on all products as necessary.
24 comments:
Like I'm going to believe you fools that offer bribes instead of giving an aircraft its regular maintenance, that allow toxic waste to be buried in your village, that conduct surgery with torchlight; go away already, Nigerian government is a big joke.
That's it! The coast is clear!Oya! pass me the Fanta!
The health minister , nafdac officials and Coca Cola staff and members of their families should continue to consume all Coca Cola products. As the fed govt has confirmed them good for human consumption.
Abi na
... Merited happiness
How can the FG say coca cola products are safe..Coke is the number 1 carcinogen in the world and is responsible for 70 percent of cancer growths in humans ..Drink at Ur own peril
When money talks bullshit works. Money don pass hand story don change. Shame NAFDAC. You are trying to say the British lab is lying. Na wa o! Them just prefer people to die first.
Abiooo make them and their families continue to drink as many as they can good for their own health
Abiooo make them and their families continue to drink as many as they can good for their own health
First: Coca cola must have spent millions and would spend much still to keep dominating the market.
Second: Its almost clear that the quantity of benzoic acid in each product is really high and unhealthy!
thirdly: some other beverage manufacturing companies would just be dancing about this BEHT Y'ALL KEEP CALM, YYour product aint any where near better; should investigations be done, yours would most likely be way higher!
Finally: with the level of heat in this country, the majority of humans would still settle for a chilled bottle of coke even without any promo or advertorial!!!
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Either way it is not really good for anyone, water is better, low calories drink with less sweeteners are better, eating fruit is ok.
When u look at the face of this man u will see he has been paid to betray Nigerians. Traitor and an enemy of the land. No wonder there has been increase in cancer and kidney problems. He should be sacked.
Me, looking at Nigerians dropping a comment about coke while sipping a coke. We all love coke and love sharing that feeling. It's safe to take medicine with water and not carbonated drinks. Take your coke when you need to. Peace!
"Both Benzoic acid and Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by International Food Safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world."
you all should stop having the mindset of money controlling your health. You should also have the mindset of seeing the the fact and try trusting your health agencies.
Moderation is the major 🔑 in everything. It's that simple. A vast majority of people love coke, who would not love a chilled bottle of coke in hot Nigerian weather.
As they said, read advisory warnings and do what's best for your health. A lot of foods and drinks are toxic when taken in excess yet are very good for the body when taken in moderation and properly too.
So the best bet remains to take precautions yourself!
Take precautions as you would do with any other product you consume. Moderation remains key. Read advisory warnings and consume whatever product that you love and is best for you. It's that simple...a chilled bottled of coke under this Nigerian sun is always an experience... All we need to is be moderate while enjoying them drinks.
Since the FG had confirmed it is safe then i think NAFDAC has no choice because this are our best drink since day one.
I have never been told to use any of these drinks with Vitamin C, moreso the consumption rate in Nigeria is high and i have never see any bad record because ones Nigerians discover this, they speak first . We are good.
I'm supporting you my dear, they have shared the money and now endangering people's life for their pocket. I'm disappointed with NAFDAC official
The truth is too much of anything and everything is not good for your health including water. Everything should be taken in moderation. To public knowledge, Fanta and Sprite has never killed anyone in Nigeria and the rate of cancer in Nigeria is low compared to the country that makes this claim. So if we read the presented facts with intelligence, i'm sure we would find that there is nothing to worry about.
Is it not a big shame to nafdac? They cannot detect d wrong tin coca kola contain, but another country does to our very own product. Thank God I don't even fancy coke cos I knw what it can cause to our system. Make them dem continue to dey take am
Oga try to read to understand. The other country detected it because it is not acceptable in their country due to their unique environment. Our own agencies said it's ok considering our own environmental factors so ki lo shele gan gan?
As for me, i go settle for my zobo doing.
Person don die on top this matter before? No Person don die now? No. So I still say Pass me the Fanta! *in Terry G's voice*
It's a big shame to people who read to blame and not read to understand.
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