NIGERIA’S FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS REPORTEDLY  CLARIFIED THE POSITION OF FANTA AND SPRITE, CERTIFYING BOTH DRINKS AS SAFE FOR CONSUMERS.

THIS IS ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT SIGNED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH AKINOLA BOADE.

HE SAID THE FINDINGS OF THE MINISTRY’S INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT 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.

THE STATEMENT HOWEVER REVEALED THAT ON WHETHER THE LEVELS OF ADDITIVES INTRODUCED AS PRESERVATIVES ARE WITHIN SPECIFICATION OR NOT, “CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION (CAC) IS THE ORGAN ESTABLISHED BY FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANISATION 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.

THE DEVELOPMENT FOLLOWS RECENT COURT JUDGEMENT ON A CASE FILED BY FIJABI HOLDINGS VERSUS NIGERIA BOTTLING COMPANY (NBC) AND NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC), BOTH JOINED AS A NOMINAL PARTY.

THE COURT HAD ORDERED NAFDAC TO DIRECT NBC TO ISSUE A MANDATORY WARNING ON ITS FANTA AND SPRITE PRODUCTS, STATING THAT THE CONTENTS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITH VITAMIN C IN ORDER TO AVOID POISONING.

THERE HAD BEEN WIDESPREAD PUBLIC FEAR THAT FANTA AND SPRITE PRODUCED BY NBC NIGERIA FAILED THE UK BENZOIC TEST AND THEREFORE HARMFUL TO CONSUMERS.

HOWEVER THE STATEMENT FROM THE HEALTH MINISTRY  HAS  CLARIFIED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE STANDARD OF FANTA AND SPRITE IN NIGERIA AND UNITED KINGDOM.