The Nation Newspaper

Category: Consumer Watch

  • Responsibility of the consumer

    Responsibility of the consumer

    There are things manufacturers and retailers can do for you as a consumer. The manufacturer has the responsibility of indicating production and expiry dates, amongst others. The retailer, for instance, brings it closer to you but it is the sole responsibility of the consumer to purchase products that are still within its shelf life.

    Mrs. Toyin Adewale stopped at Purple& Scarlet, a popular supermarket in Ikeja, Lagos, to buy her hair shampoo.

    Her favourite is Head and Shoulder dandruff hair shampoo from the stable of Procter & Gamble Plc. She dashed into the shop, hastily exchanged greetings with the beautiful owner as she walked in through the door. Adewale told the shop owner she did not park her car well and requested for the hair shampoo.

    The attendant quickly took it off the shelf, bagged it and handed it to her. Without checking the container and packaging, she just dropped the bag on her car seat and quickly zoomed off, thankful to God that she had bought the shampoo and was able to evade her car being impounded by LASTMA officials for the wrong parking.

    The next evening, she went to the hair saloon. The hair stylist tried washing her hair with the shampoo but noticed it was not really foaming well and Adewale also realised that the menthol and clean feeling that usually accompany the use of the shampoo was not there. Is this actually the original shampoo? wondered Adewale. Grabbing the container, she noted it was the same brand only that it had expired.

    She was so furious and regretted not checking the expiry date before making the purchase. Unfortunately, the container of the shampoo is supposed to last her at least six months. Besides, the shampoo does not come cheap as it costs about four times the price of the ordinary shampoo.

    Mr. Obinna  Chujiuka does his shopping mostly on the road as he comes from work late in the evenings. On this occasion, he was in a heavy traffic, so he rolled down his car window to buy cereals for his three children.

    Happy with his purchases, 750g packs of three cereals, especially as the prices were slightly cheaper than usual, he envisaged the faces of his kids when they see the Rice Krispies, Fruit and Fibre and Corn Flakes. Flinging the carrier bags to the back seat of his car, he hummed a song, anticipating the happy shrieking when he comes home.

    Sure enough, getting home, he got a warm embrace from his wife and bear hugs from the excited children. Seeing the packs of cereals, they said they were not eating the food their mum made for dinner but were having the cereal for dinner.

    Their mum poured the Rice Krispies in a bowl of milk but noticed it has lost its freshness as the popping sound that usually emanate as the cereal touches liquid was not there. She tasted it but spat it out when she noticed it tasted flat and off.

    Sensing her husband must have bought the inferior brand, she checked the packaging, confirming it was the top and most popular brand. Now checking further, she noticed that the original manufactured and expiry dates had been rubbed off and in their place were new dates written in black marker pens.

    It is the sole responsibility of the consumer to check the condition of the product he or she is paying for. No wonder, one of the campaigns of the regulatory body, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) says, “Look well, well before you buy”. You must be aware and at alert when shopping in order not to be a prey.

    “The manufacturer, producers and importers of products owe the consumer the obligation of informing them of the expiry date status of products they manufacture, produce or import. By so doing, they stand the chances of boosting consumer confidence in their products,’’ explained Mr. Abiodun Obimuyiwa, Director, Corporate Affairs, Consumer Production Council (CPC) of Nigeria.

    On almost all products, edible and non edible, there are various dates printed on the packages and containers holding the product, and in some cases, printed leaflets attached to the products or even on the shelves where the products are displayed indicating the shelf life, manufactured dates and other relevant information for the general public.

    Different terms are used by the product manufacturers who are responsible for providing consumers with such information. They have the responsibility of informing consumers the shelf life of products, as part of their responsibility to substantiate product quality.

    Most terms printed on product or their packaging are : ‘Use by’ date, ‘Best Before’ date, ‘Expiration’ date, ‘Born on/Aged’ date, ‘Pack’ date, ‘Guaranteed Fresh’ date,  ‘Best by’ date, ‘Sell by’ date, ‘ Eat by’ date, ‘ Best if used by’ date, ‘Open’ date.

    ‘Sell by/Display Until’ date: The manufacturer is simply informing the store and the consumer that it is the last date stores are supposed to display the product for sale. Sell by date indicates the end of its shelf life at the store. Although the food product may be used and enjoyed past this date, it is advisable not to buy it. However, for food products that have passed their ‘sell by’ date and ‘display’ date but has not reached their ‘use by’ date nor ‘best before’ date, they will still be edible assuming they had been stored correctly.

    ‘Best before/ best by’ date are only advisory and refer to the quality of the product in contrast with the ‘use by’ dates which indicate that the product may no longer be safe to consume after the specified date. Food kept after the ‘best before’ date will not necessarily be harmful but may begin to lose its optimum flavour and texture.

    Eggs are a special case since they may contain salmonella which multiplies over time. They should therefore be eaten before the ‘best by’ date.

    ‘Use by’ date; Generally, foods that have the’ use by’ date written on the packaging must not be eaten after the specified date. This is because such foods usually go bad quickly and may be injurious to health if spoiled. It is also important to follow storage instructions carefully for these products.

    Open dating is the use of a date or code stamped on the package of a food product to help determine how long to display the product for sale. This benefits the consumer by ensuring that the product is of an acceptable quality when sold. An open date does not supersede a ‘use by’ date which should still be followed.

  • Health benefits of mango

    Health benefits of mango

    Mangoes are here again. It’s the season. Fresh and juicy mangoes are sold now. However, apart from being tasty, do you know that this fruit referred to as the king of fruits and love fruit also offers a number of health benefit.

    Nutrition chart

    One cup of mangoes (225 gms) contains the following percentages that apply to daily value.

    105 calories

    76 percent vitamin C (antioxidant and immune booster)

    25 percent vitamin A (antioxidant and vision)

    11 percent vitamin B6 plus other B vitamins (hormone production in brain and heart disease prevention)

    9 percent healthy probiotic fibre

    9 percent copper (copper is a co-factor for many vital enzymes plus production of red blood cells)

    7 percent potassium (to balance out our high sodium intake)

    4 percent magnesium

    1. Fights cancer

    Antioxidants like quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat present in mango protect the body against colon and breast cancers.

    1. Keeps cholesterol in check

    Mango has high level of vitamin C, pectin and fibres that help to lower serum cholesterol levels. Fresh mango is a rich source of potassium, which is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.

    1. Skin cleanser

    Mangoes help you unclog your pores and add freshness to the face. Mangoes are applicable to any skin type. They help clear clogged pores that cause acne. Just slice a mango into thin pieces and keep them on your face for 10 to 15 minutes and then take bath or wash your face and see the results.

    1. Alkalises the body

    According to natural health school.com, mango is rich in tartaric acid, malic acid and traces of citric acid that primarily help in maintaining the alkali reserve of the body.

    1. Weight loss

    Mango has a lot of vitamins and nutrients that help the body feel fuller. Also, the fibrous fruit boosts the digestive function of the body by burning additional calories, helping in weight loss.

    1. Regulates diabetes

    Not only the fruit but the leaves of mangoes are healthy too. For people suffering from diabetes, just boil 5-6 mango leaves in a vessel, soak it through night and drink the filtered decoction in the morning. This helps in regulating your insulin levels.

    Mango has a low glycemic index (41-60) so going a little overboard will not increase your sugar levels.

    1. Aphrodisiac

    Mango has aphrodisiac qualities and is also called the ‘love fruit’. Mangoes increase the virility in men. Vitamin E, which is abundantly present in mangoes, helps to regulate sex hormones and boosts sex drive.

    Additional information from Mae Chan. She holds degrees in both physiology and nutritional sciences. She is also blogger and technology enthusiast with a passion for disseminating information about health.

     

     

    1. Eye care

    Did you know that mango is rich in vitamin A. One cup of sliced mangoes equals 25% intake of your daily need of vitamin A. Mangoes help in promoting good eye sight, fights dry eyes and also prevent night blindness.

    1. Helps in digestion

    Mango contains enzymes that help in breaking down protein. The fibrous nature of mango helps in digestion and elimination. It is rich in pre-biotic dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals.

    1. Heat stroke

    When the sun is bogging you down, just chop of a mango in a juicer; add a little water and a table spoon of  honey. This juice will instantly cool you down and prevent heat stroke.

    1. Strengthens your immune

    The deadly combination of vitamin C, vitamin A and 25 different kinds of carotenoids keep your immune system healthy.

    1. Body scrub

    Make a paste of mashed mango, honey and milk and use as a body scrub, you will feel that your skin is tender and smooth.

    1. Aids concentration and memory

    Studying for exams? This fruit is rich in glutamine acid– an important protein for concentration and memory. Feed mangoes to children who find it difficult to concentrate on studies.

    1. High iron for women

    Mango is rich in iron, hence it is a great natural solution for people suffering from anaemia. Menopausal and pregnant women can indulge in mangoes as this will increase their iron levels and calcium at the same time.

    1. Reduces kidney stones 

    In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour with a cooling energy also capable of reducing the risk of kidney stone formation.

    1. Stomach tonic 

    Before going to bed put some 10 or 15 mango leaves in warm water and close it with lid. The next day morning filter the water and drink it in empty stomach. Do this regularly.

    Additional information from Mae Chan. She holds degrees in both physiology and nutritional sciences. She is also blogger and technology enthusiast with a passion for disseminating information about health.

     

     

  • Breakfast gets complete with Chivita 100%

    Breakfast gets complete with Chivita 100%

    CHI Limited, Nigeria’s market leader in fruit juices and diary, producer of the only 100% fruit juice brand on the local shelf, has unveiled its new marketing communication campaign tagged ‘BreakfastWithChivita100%’. This is part of efforts to reinforce its flagship’s brand proposition and drive awareness initiatives for a complete healthy breakfast. For a brand that has consistently churned out a variety of exciting campaigns, the new breakfastwithChivita100% television advertisement is a step higher in terms of messaging, production quality and unique delivery style.

    The look of the television advertisement showcases the creativity and strategic intent of the brand managers as every quality of Chivita 100% fruit juice is portrayed with sublime imageries. It also engages consumers by showcasing internationally renowned football stars like Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Eric Bailly.

    The television commercial which is currently being aired on terrestrial and satellite channels portrays a brilliant depiction of these football stars engaging in amazing soccer artistry as they are teleported into a Pinball machine. Wayne Rooney challenges his team mates and they eagerly take up the challenge with the goal of reaching 100% success in the game. This goal closely resonates with the brand’s value of 100% commitment and 100% achievement. More importantly, it reiterates the refreshing and nourishing value of the 100% fruit Juice as an addition for a complete breakfast.

    Busy lifestyles have meant that more people are tending towards skipping breakfast or having inadequate breakfast diets. Breakfast is actually the most important meal of the day and a good chance to get a head start on packing in the nutrients the body needs to function well.

    Through its newly launched communication campaign which is being deployed through television, digital, out-of-home, consumer activation and point of sales, Chivita 100% seeks to be at the forefront and own complete healthy breakfast narrative in the minds of consumers with scheduled activities in the weeks and months ahead.

  • What rights have consumers?

    What rights have consumers?

    Today is not your usual Sunday, but Easter Sunday. Happy Easter to all our readers and as we dine and wine, may we not forget the message of Easter, which is Jesus Christ reconciling we sinners to God through his death on the cross. May we enjoy the benefits of that sacrifice on the cross.

    Now to the main topic of today, which is ‘What rights have Nigerian consumers’?

    Mrs. Ronny Ajumobi bought a micro wave oven from Balogun Market, Lagos Island. On getting home, she realised that the micro wave oven was faulty as it was not working at all. She had paid N30,000 for the electrical equipment.

    Exasperated, she took the micro wave oven back to the seller. The seller, as expected, said it was not his fault but that of the manufacturer in which case Ajumobi would have to wait until he contact the manufacturer. Offering her another option, he asked her to bring money so he could repair the supposedly brand new equipment she bought from him.

    Disappointed and feeling there was no other way out, Ajumobi obliged and paid N2,000 for the repairs.

    One week later, she collected the micro wave oven back, but it was not performing efficiently. She then asked the seller to refund her the full money she paid for the equipment or exchange it with another brand, but the man vehemently refused, alleging that the kitchen equipment spoilt because the woman handled it carelessly.

    If you are Ajumobi, what will you do? Theoretically, it is said that a customer is the king of the market. Though in most developed countries that is the case while in Nigeria and some other countries it is not so. Customers are still treated anyhow and taken for granted. Our rights are trampled upon and the heart breaking part of it is that the majority of the consumers do nothing about it other than saying, “I leave it to God.”

    However, some people may not really be blamed. An uninformed consumer cannot effectively insist on her rights and seek redress.

    Consumers had little protection in the world market place before the 1950s but on March 15th. 1962, the then American President, John F. Kennedy, introduced the ‘Consumer Bill of Right’ to help consumers understand their rights and responsibilities. Hence, the celebration of World Consumer Rights Day, every March 15th.

    The guidelines of that Consumer Bill of Rights form the internationally agreed laws necessary for consumer protection, of good practice in their implementation and of other actions needed to promote consumer rights.

    As a consumer, you have the following rights and you must insist on them. First and foremost, you have the basic rights which guarantee survival, adequate food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and healthy environment.

    Now going further, as an everyday consumer who transacts business with people, interacts with people and lives in a community, there are certain rights which accrue to you and which you must not ignore.

    The right to information: You have the right to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising and labelling and the right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed choice.

    Do not buy any products without a label or name and address of the manufacturer. If they are hiding their identity, they are likely to be fakes.

    Many of us have made the mistakes of signing papers and documents without actually reading and understanding the contents. It is important to read and understand all provisions in documents, like warranties and guarantees before appending our signatures.

    The right to choose: I have been to a shop where I was asked not to touch anything before paying. I was asked to use only my eyes. I rebuffed them. Consumers have the right to carefully compare one product with another so as to determine which one will serve them better.

    Be wary of special offers like, ‘buy one get one free’ or ‘buy two take one free’ or ‘buy three for the price of two’. Compare them with the regular priced items to be sure that you are not paying for the said free items.

    Also check to see the expiry date if the price being offered is far cheaper than the original price.

    Safety: As consumers, we have the right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of services that are hazardous to health and life.

    Apart from what the government is doing in this area, as a consumer, to protect yourself, especially if you have sensitivity to a certain ingredient, it will be very beneficial to read all labels and product circulars before using a certain product.

    If you are in a store and have doubts about a product’s effectiveness, ask for a person in store who knows how the product works and how to operate it.

    The right to representation: Consumers have the right to express their interest in the making and execution of government policies. Usually, different consumer groups depending on what the issues are represent the larger bodies in government policies. Be aware of how the consumer laws and regulations are being implemented in your locality.

    Right to redress: Every consumer has the right to redress, which is the right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or unsatisfactory issues. But rather than pursue that right when the need arises, we attribute it to ‘the will of God’ or ‘I leave it for God to judge’.

    After reading this piece, change your attitude and pursue your right. If you buy a defective product, go back to the store and request for a replacement, refund, or to have the defective item repaired.

    If the manager ignores your complaints, proceed to the agency that has jurisdiction over your case, like the Consumer Protection Council, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) or contact Consumer watch or any media house.

    Bring the necessary documents, like complaint letter and your receipt, and other documents you deem are vital for the mediation. Also, make sure you attend the mediation conference yourself.

    To be continued.

  • Endorsement galore for Nigerian Breweries

    The Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai, has commended Nigerian Breweries Plc for its role in the economic development of the state, stressing that the company remains the biggest tax payer in Kaduna State.

    The governor, who was at Nigerian Breweries Stand at the just concluded Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit (KadInvest 2.0), said Nigerian Breweries plays a big role in the state as far as investment and economic growth are concerned and remains a concrete testimony of the friendly business and investment environment the state is promoting.

    El-Rufai, accompanied by APC’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, Kano State Governor, Alh. Umar Ganduje, and his Zamfara State counterpart and Chairman of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, Alh. Abdullazeez Abubakar Yari, as well as the Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, Barrister Ibrahim Hassan, maintained that Nigerian Breweries Plc was a shining example in corporate Nigeria and a strategic partner for development in the state given its huge investments and social intervention programmes in Kaduna.

    Earlier, while welcoming the governor and his entourage to the stand, the Corporate Affairs Adviser of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem, said Kaduna State was a friendly environment for investment and has been home to Nigerian Breweries since 1964 when its first brewery was built in Kakuri.

    Ekanem thanked the Kaduna State Government for its support over the years, stressing that the company will continue to be a partner for growth and development in the state in line with its commitment to supporting the development aspirations of its host governments and communities.

    He commended the governor for his commitment to the promotion of investment and economic growth in the state, pointing out that Kaduna remains a home for Nigerian Breweries, given its successful operations in the state for over 50 years.

    “We want to remain an active development partner to the state and look forward to working closely with you in this regard. This is what informs our support not only for this Summit but also other initiatives designed to make the business environment in Kaduna more conducive and friendly,” he added.

    Nigerian Breweries Plc is the leading and pioneer brewing company in Nigeria and the second most capitalised company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. With over 120,000 indigenous shareholders, the company supports an employment impact of over 500,000 people through its value chain. Nigerian Breweries currently operates two breweries and one malting plant in Kaduna State and has continued to make strategic interventions in the development of education, health, water, agriculture, sports, etcetera in the state.

  • CPC affirms Fanta’s and Sprite’s compliance with Benzoic standards

    Independent laboratory analyses and investigations carried out by the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) have confirmed that Fanta and Sprite are fit for human consumption and within the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits of benzoic acid and sunset yellow.

    Making this disclosure recently at a news conference at the Council’s Abuja Headquarters, the Director General, of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said that the levels of two additives, benzoic acid and sunset yellow, which raised public apprehension in the consumption of soft drinks because of the action at the Lagos High Court have been confirmed through laboratory analysis to be within the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits.

    She disclosed that National Agency for Food, Drug Administration Control, NAFDAC, and Standard Organisations of Nigeria, SON, have been informed about the outcome of the investigation, and that the Council has also recommended regulatory action and review of the ”benzoic acid limits in soft drinks as the current standard, which has been in existence since 2008 is overdue for review,” particularly with the requirement for reviews pegged for every five years.

    The Director General explained that because of the high level of benzoic acid found in isolated cases of Mirinda and Lucozade tested, the Council has called for further regulatory investigative analysis, action and review in the levels of the additive in the products.

    On sunset yellow, she pointed out that the Council has also recommended “regulatory action for a review of the standard as some countries have already reduced the approved limit, while some have labelling requirements for its use, and some others have adopted its outright ban.”

  • Norway to expand sea food industry in Nigeria

    Norway to expand sea food industry in Nigeria

    One cannot talk of sea food, particularly stockfish without mentioning Norway. That is why people from various works of life, including international traders, Norwegian and Nigerian government officials, and other stake holders in the Nigerian fishery industry converged at Eko Hotels, Lagos for the Norwegian seafood seminar on networking relations for Norwegian stockfish, pelagic and salmon in the Nigerian market.

    Speaking at the event which was held recently, the Executive Director, Nigerian Institute of Marine Research and Oceanography, Dr. Gbolagade Akande, noted that Nigeria has been importing stockfish from Norway since the 1890s. A situation he described as a good business relation between the two countries.

    However, Dr. Gbolagade Akande, who represented the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe, regretted that there was imbalance in the bilateral relationship between Norway and Nigeria, noting that the development is to the disadvantage of the country.

    Elucidating, he said, “There is trade imbalance in the bilateral relationship because Nigerian imports hugely from Norway but Norway cannot be said to be taking anything from Nigeria. This is not good for our economy. That is why we are advocating for the need to invest and encourage research into the area of aquaculture and fishmeal production. There is a lot of fish in our water that can support fishmeal production, but sadly Nigeria depends largely on importation of fishmeal into the country. We want Norway to come and invest in fishmeal industry in Nigeria to close the gap in this trade imbalance.”

    The minister said this is important because Norway is not importing oil from Nigeria because Norway too has oil. He called on Norwegian government to look at the seafood sector of agriculture where the two countries have many things in common and invest in it.  He described the seminar as another opportunity for Nigeria and Norway to move forward in their business relations.

    “Now we are talking of how to move forward and the way to go about that is to work on how we can bridge the disparity between demand and supply. To achieve this, the two countries will collaborate to inject money into research while Norway is particularly needed to set up fishmeal companies in Nigeria,” said Ogbe

    While pointing out that there is still a huge potential in the market, Ogbe put the demand of 180 million people population in Nigeria at 2.7million metric tons, out of which he said Nigeria is only producing 1.7 metric tons.

    The Norwegian Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Mr. Ronny Berg, expressed the wishes of the Norwegian government and exporters to assist the Nigerian fish importers trading with them in any legitimate way they can as well as in other fisheries sector like aquaculture in this period of Nigeria’s scarce foreign exchange and slow trade in the non-oil sector.

    Mr. Ronny Berg, who was represented by the Ambassador of Norway to Nigeria, Jens-Peter Kjemprud, also admitted that there is a lot of opportunities in the seafood sector and promised that Norway is determined to collaborate with Nigeria to explore the sector.

    He, however, stated that the recent economic situation in the world has affected the sector like other areas of the global economy but added that a lot is being done to boost production and create jobs, where necessary.

    The ambassador also agreed with the Nigerian minister that Norway has been exporting stock fish to Nigeria since 1890s and that Norwegian seafood represents an important source of protein to many Nigerians.

    The ambassador, who pointed out that Nigeria is Norway’s biggest trading partner on the African continent, said: “Nigeria and Norway have bilateral trade relations and we have been working closely together for more than 100 years. We are investing in fish, especially stock fish, sardines, and mackerel, as well as oil. Nigeria is a fertile land and that is why we will do more in our investment here.”

    He, however, called on the federal government to boost its provision of infrastructure such as power and tighter security for their investment to bloom in order to command more investment into the country. He did acknowledge the fact that Nigerians are friendly people that do not discriminate against foreigners.

    During the various presentations, it was gathered that Nigeria and Norway have long-standing traditions for seafood trade that is over a hundred years old. Norway exports stockfish, salmon and pelagic fishes to Italy, UK, USA, Slovakia etc., amongst several countries. Norway exports 34 million meals everyday to 140 countries.

    Berg emphasised on the sustainable production of seafood from Norway to Nigeria as well as to other countries all over the world. He stated that Norway’s stockfish is very nutritious and has all the essential nutrients, very high in protein, over 70percent and very rich in omega3 fatty acids that is very good for the human body. Stockfish, he said, is produced in the clear, cold waters of Lofoten in Norway.

    Nigeria is the largest importer of Norwegian stockfish and stockfish heads. Norway produces only optimum stockfish and stockfish heads that are fit for human consumption (the product is also eaten in Norway). In 2016, Norway exported almost 7000metric tonnes of stockfish to Nigeria. In the pelagic export – mackerel takes the largest share of the Norwegian pelagic export to Nigeria; with over 16,000metric tonnes imported by Nigeria in 2016. Nigeria is one of the five largest importers of mackerel from Norway.

    Berg also noted that aside from trade, Norway has featured prominently in rendering assistance to Nigeria in marine research over the years through the Friedjord-Nansen Marine Project. “The third Friedjord Bansen vessel was christened some few weeks back and Nigeria was represented at the christening in Norway by a senior staff of the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research,” he stated.

    Earlier, the ambassador had held a closed door meeting with customs officials and the director of fisheries as well as Norwegian and Nigerian companies active in trade and investment.

     

  • LG introduces robotic technology

    Technology as at today is evolving at really very fast pace leaving many manufacturers no option other than to move with the pace.

    LG Electronics as a leading brand in the electronics market has once again proven that innovation is the mother of all invention, with the LG Hom-Bot square which is ushering an array of smart cleaning devices. The new improved Hom-Bot is equipped with advanced deep learning technology and has this unique feature of HomeView and HomeGuard which enable it to recognise any form of interference and automatically adjusts itself accordingly. Consumers will no doubt enjoy the less stressful process of cleaning the entire house with the aid of Hom-Bot square and the lawn mowing robots.

    A renowned professor of economics, Richard Baldwin, once predicted that “Hotel room in London could be cleaned by people driving robots sitting in Kenya or Buenos Aires or wherever in the world.”

    Head of Corporate Marketing, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Rajesh Agnihotri, said: “For us in LG, futuristic technology is here with us and that is why we have incorporated robotic mechanism into our designs for smarter homes, as well as up scaling existing products and also introducing newer ones that will meet the needs of our consumers.”

    The aviation industry across the world is not left out, as it is experiencing dramatic intervention, all thanks to the LG’s airport guide robots which now applies advanced technology to address challenges of air travel by drastically reducing time wasting. The airport guide robot is a wonderful innovation that scans ticket barcodes to provide flight information as well as time and weather condition of intended travellers’ destination. Interestingly, the robot has been programmed to speak four different languages (English, Korean, Chinese and Japanese) with the aid of its voice control and recognition technology.

  • Consumers fault FG’s ban on tomato importation

    Consumers fault FG’s ban on tomato importation

    Majority of consumers are reacting cynically to federal government’s pronouncement on the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate, and the increased tariff on importation of tomato concentrate from five to 50 per cent.
    Their reactions stem mostly from the fact that, according to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Nigeria’s domestic demand for tomato is 2.3 million tonnes annually while only 1.8 million tonnes is produced.
    The shortfall of 500,000 tonnes is made up of imported tomato paste, powder and concentrate.
    Another reason for consumers skepticism towards the latest government pronouncement on tomato, arises from what they term ‘the failure of such past government policies’ with many citing the recent ban on the importation of rice, frozen poultry in order to revive local rice, poultry farming but which only resulted in the hike of the prices of the products concerned.
    According to a research by the Agricultural Economics Department of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, tomato constitutes 18per cent of all vegetables consumed by Nigeria’s 180 million populace.
    The federal government, had through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, banned the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate, and increased the tariff on importation of tomato concentrate among others from five to 50 per cent in order to revive the tomato sector.
    According to operators, the value of imported tomato paste in Nigeria is about $170 million and $50 million spent on triple tomato concentrate.
    The Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade and Investment in a document titled ‘Implementation of the tomato sector policy’, which was signed by the Director, Industry Development of the ministry, Mr. Adewale Bakare, stated that such action would revive the sector, create jobs and preserve foreign exchange.
    He said, “Government has overtime engaged tomato industry stakeholders on ways to deepen the industry and particularly, encourage the use of locally produced tomato fruits across the value chain. It is in that regard that I am directed to bring to your notice the decision of the government towards boosting production and attracting investments into the tomato sector.
    “These include ‘classification of greenhouse equipment as agricultural equipment to attract zero per cent import duty. Ban on the importation of tomato paste, powder or concentrate put up for retailing and others. Ban on tomato prepared or preserved by vinegar or acetic acid and others.
    “Increase in the tariff on the tomato concentrate and other concentrates (HS Code 2002.90.11.000) from five percent to 50 percent and additional levy of $1,500 per metric tons with the objective of increasing the current tariff from five percent to 50 percent (35percent +5 percent+10 percent) and an additional levy of US$1,500 metric ton.
    ”Banning is a good move but has the government made provisions on ground to meet local demand of tomato? Very soon there will be scarcity of tomato in the market,” regretted Mrs. Doga Odusile, a trader at Iddo Market, Lagos.
    Noting that there are few tomato factories in Nigeria, another trader at the market, Alhaji Idris Garuba, asked: “How many tomato factories do we have in Nigeria? Do we even have competent regulatory agencies to check mate the operations of those factories?”
    “That is always the problem of Nigeria. We make policies without thinking deeply of the shortcoming. Those producing locally cannot satisfy the demands of the entire populace and we all know what the law of demand and supply says,” said a staff of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria [MAN] who craved anonymity.
    In the words of Mrs. Grace Akintunde, a civil servant with Lagos State: “I tell you, people will still find a way to pay the tariff and then transfer the exorbitant prices on final consumers. This will further compound the already worsening condition of average Nigerians. God should just please have mercy on us.”
    “This is exactly what happened when government through the former NAFDAC chairman, Dr. Paul Orhii, decided to enforce the ban on the importation of poultry. While the importers and most government officials detailed to enforce the ban got richer, the price of poultry skyrocketed (both imported and local poultry) putting more pressure on the masses. Eventually what happened? Has the policy not failed? Is frozen poultry not on display everywhere?” lamented Dr. Afam Okechukwu.
    “As usual, another okay policy that would not work due to lack of infrastructure,” regretted Engineer Ibe. Speaking further, he noted that the policy will bring about a 100 per cent rise in the cost of imported tomato paste while there will not be a significant decrease in the importation.”
    Also while labour union officials in some of the local tomato canning companies are calling on the government to be given the latitude to plan for backward integration, most of the producers who plant tomato and can manufacture paste locally are lauding government’s decision on the ban.
    The President, National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employees, Lateef Oyelekan, had earlier stated in a press communique that local tomato companies should be given the latitude to plan for backward integration.
    According to him, the quantity of fresh tomato being cultivated currently in the country is not enough for local consumption and the quality is not good enough to be processed into paste.
    Oyelekan pointed out that “it would take years for the planting, harvesting and processing of the produce into concentrate.”
    Disagreeing with the stand of the Tomato Labour Union, Chief Eric Umeofia, the Chief Executive Officer of Erisco Foods Ltd, manufacturer of Ric-Giko tomato paste, countered that Nigeria has the capacity to grow and produce enough tomato paste for local consumption and even for exportation.
    Making references to his tomato plant, he said, “the plant has the capacity to meet our tomato paste local needs, hence there is no need for the importation of tomato paste or concentrate anymore. We have to increase our investments in order to meet the Nigeria export needs.”
    He averred that “full local of production of tomato paste in Nigeria will not only create millions of jobs, it will also save us an enormous amount of foreign exchange.”
    Also, Alhaji Abdulkarim Kaita, the Managing Director of Dangote Tomato Processing Company, Kadawa, Kano State, commended the federal government for banning the importation of tomato paste into the country.

  • Link between benzoic acid, vitamin C and Coca-Cola drinks

    Link between benzoic acid, vitamin C and Coca-Cola drinks

    One of my favourite Bible quotes can be found in the Book of Hosea chapter 4, verse7: ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge.’ In as much as the Bible confirms the importance of money in Ecclesiastes chapter 10, verse 19 where King Solomon stated that “Money answereth to all things,” yet it did not state that people can die for lack of it but placed so much importance on knowledge by saying that the lack of it can cause one to perish.

    These past few weeks, we have seen what damage the lack of knowledge on an issue can cause with particular reference to the benzoic acid, vitamin c and Coca-Cola drinks saga.

    The social media has been awash with the story. It’s been the number one discussion in most social gatherings. Both the “learned” and “unlearned” have been entertaining themselves with the story. At motor parks, it is the trending story – the carcinogenicity of carbonated beverages in the Nigerian market, especially products from the stables of the Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC.

    The tragic thing here is that most of the information passed around was unfounded rumours, innuendos and speculations without basis. While some claimed that NBC products kill outrightly when taken with Vitamin C, others said it causes cancer.

    However, for this lack of true and early information, I will not blame consumers but the NBC and the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control [NAFDAC] which kept fending-off journalists under the guise of civil service bureaucratic rules. “We are not authorised to speak with journalists.” The Agency’s Public Relations Officers were not picking their calls or responding to text messages from journalists.

    The whole confusion started when the public became drawn recently to a judgement of a Lagos State High Court, declaring Coca-Cola drinks, Fanta and Sprite, as unfit for human consumption if taken alongside Vitamin C.

    The judgement was as a result of a litigation commenced nine years ago by a Lagos business man who sued NBC and NAFDAC. The man had tried to export about N12million worth of Fanta and Sprite to the United Kingdom, but UK authorities, after carrying out tests on the product, confiscated the drinks, because, according to them, the products contained levels of benzoic acid and sunset additives, higher than the 150mg/kg allowed in the UK.

    According to Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX), the organ established by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to set international standards, codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production and safety, the benzoic acid level for preservatives in carbonated drinks and water-based flavoured drinks is 250mg/kg.

    The amount of benzoic preservative in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches) presented in the Lagos High Court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg respectively, even below the regulatory limits recommended by CODEX, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) , the European Union (EU) commission and even the United States (US) food and drug agency.

    Under extremely hot weather of about 60 degree Celsius, benzoic acid can react with Vitamin C in drinks, producing benzene which is themed to be a carcinogen. Although according to the Deputy Director Research, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, Yaba, Lagos, Dr. Oliver Ezechi, the levels and frequency at which such benzene formation has occurred in the past has not been considered to pose a public health risk. Moreover, in Nigeria even peak Maiduguri heat is below 45 degrees Celsius.

    The court nevertheless ordered NAFDAC to compel NBC to, within 90 days, include on all bottles of Fanta and Sprite a warning clause that the drinks could be dangerous when consumed with Vitamin C.

    NBC denied that it was negligent. It stated that it was untrue that Fanta and Sprit could be dangerous when taken with Vitamin C. The ruling has been appealed against.

    The federal government also last weekend issued a statement, stating that after a meeting between the Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC and SON, in Abuja, the federal government came to the conclusion that Fanta and Sprite were fit for human consumption.

    The burning questions on the lips of Nigerians are: What is Benzoic Acid? What is it used for? Why did the UK authorities say that Fanta and Sprite had excess of it? What is the safe limit? Other question will be, what has it got to do with Vitamin C?

    To really understand the whole story, we shall take it step by step. Simply put, Benzoic acid is a popular preservative used by producers of food and none food products. It also occurs naturally in many plants and fruits such as cranberries, cloves, cinnamon, plum, currants. Significant levels have been found in honey.

    It is usually the first choice of food and some none food manufacturers.  It is very effective against moulds, yeasts and bacteria. It is commonly used in products such as jam, yoghurt, emulsified sauces, toothpaste, cosmetics, shampoo, chewing gum, medicine, carbonated drinks, fruit juice, salad dressing, etcetera.

    However, benzoic acid is particularly well suited for soft drinks, such as carbonated, still and juice beverage because it works best between PH level of 2-3. The composition of the drink therefore has an effect on its efficiency and suitability for use.

    Regulatory requirements of benzoic acid vary from country to country depending on environmental and weather conditions. For carbonated soft drinks and other water-based flavoured drinks, according to CODEX, benzoic acid should not exceed 250mg/kg.

    As stated earlier, for benzoic acid, country temperature, storage and distribution conditions guide setting standards. So while benzoic acid standards in Nigeria is 250mg/kg, UK is 150mg/kg. UK is a temperate climate and the weather does not support microorganism growth. Nigeria is a tropical country and the weather supports microbial proliferation and thus requires higher benzoic acid limit level, hence the higher 250 or 300mg/kg set by SON in Nigeria. However, it should be noted that SON has two legal limits for benzoic acid as food preservative.

    *If a product contains Vitamin C (Ascobic acid), less than 250mg/kg

    *No Vitamin C, (Ascorbic acid), less than 300mg/kg.

    What is the place of Vitamin C in all these? Usually, benzoic acid reacts with Vitamin C in drinks under extremely hot weather conditions like at above 60 degrees Celsius. But in Nigeria, even peak Maiduguri heat is below 45 degrees Celsius. However, when this reaction takes place, benzene which is a carcinogen can be produced.

    According to Ezechi, “the main issue in this controversy that all well-meaning Nigerians should condemn is the export of products meant for the Nigerian market to UK without due diligence. It can be inferred that the company did not obtain the necessary approvals from relevant agencies which are in the position to assist and ensure that all necessary trade/industry requirements were fulfilled.”

    Throwing more light on the controversy, he explained that rejection of a product is not always because of poor quality, but often may be due to non-conformity with regulatory requirements.

    Calling on people to research before making comments on issues that are outside their competence, he added, “We can only engage in meaningful discussion when we base our arguments on verifiable scientific facts and not emotions.”

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