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.