The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Fanta

  • Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C not poisonous, says NBC

    Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C not poisonous, says NBC

    The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has faulted claims that its products, Fanta and Sprite when taken with Vitamins C are poisonous.

    In a statement by its management Wednesday, the firm said information on the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks, citing a Lagos High Court order, is misleading.

    “In the judgement delivered on February 15, 2017 in a suit involving Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited & Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo vs. Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC) & National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Lagos High Court dismissed all claims against NBC and held that the company had not breached its duty of care to consumers and that there was no proven case of negligence against it.

    “In the same judgement, the court directed NAFDAC to mandate NBC to include a warning on its bottles of Fanta and Sprite that its contents cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same become poisonous if taken with Vitamin C. This order was premised on the fact that the products contain the preservative, benzoic acid. NBC has since appealed this order.”

    The firm explained that the standards for testing benzoic acid in soft drinks differs from country to country and is influenced by different factors such as climate.

    The United Kingdom (UK), it added, being a temperate country, requires lower preservative levels unlike a tropical country like Nigeria, but that this did not make NBC’s products harmful when taken with Vitamin C.

    “In the subject case which dates back to 2007, the UK authorities confiscated a consignment of our products shipped to that country by the plaintiff because their benzoic acid levels were not within the UK national level, although well within the levels approved by both the national regulators for Nigeria and the international levels set by CODEX, the joint inter-governmental body responsible for harmonising food standards globally.

    “The UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg/kg. Both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg/kg which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg/kg when combined with ascorbic acid and 300 mg/kg without ascorbic acid and also lower than the 600 mg/kg international limit set by CODEX.”

    It noted 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.

    “These two ingredients are also used in combination in some of these products within levels which may differ from one country to another as approved by the respective national food and drug regulators and in line with the range prescribed by CODEX.

    “The permissible ingredient levels set by countries for their food and beverage products are influenced by a number of factors such as climate, an example being the UK, a temperate region, requiring lower preservative levels unlike tropical countries.”

    The firm added that “given the fact that the benzoic and ascorbic acid levels in Fanta as well as the benzoic acid level in Sprite produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators and the international level set by CODEX, “there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C.

    “The wrong perception emanating from the media reports that our Fanta and Sprite beverages which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, is not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country.”

    It assured its consumers and members of the public of its “unwavering commitment to product quality, safety and customer satisfaction.”

  • Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C not poisonous- NBC

    Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C not poisonous- NBC

    The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited has faulted claims that its products, Fanta and Sprite when taken with Vitamins C are poisonous.

    In a statement by its Management, the company said information on the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks, citing a Lagos High Court order is misleading.

    “ Given the fact that the benzoic and ascorbic acid levels in Fanta as well as the benzoic acid level in Sprite produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators and the international level set by CODEX, there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C.

    “ The wrong perception emanating from the media reports that our Fanta and Sprite beverages which are fully compliant with all national and international food quality and safety standards are unsafe, simply because their levels of Benzoic acid were not within the UK standards, is not only unfounded but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria which is regulated by the same ingredient levels approved by NAFDAC and other regulatory bodies for the country,” NBC stated.

    While stating that it has already appealed against the court judgement, the company assured our consumers and members of the public of its unwavering commitment to product quality, safety and customer satisfaction.

  • ‘Taking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C poisonous

    ‘Taking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C poisonous

    •Court orders NAFDAC to warn consumers 

    A Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, yesterday ordered the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to compel Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) Plc, manufacturers of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks, to include a written warning that the drinks should not be taken with Vitamin C.
    Justice Adedayo Oyebanji gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit by a Lagos businessman, Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo, and his firm, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Ltd., against NBC and NAFDAC.
    The court warned that taking Fanta and Sprite with Vitamin C is poisonous and awarded N2 million against NAFDAC for failing “to live up to expectations”.
    It said NAFDAC failed Nigerians by certifying as satisfactory for human consumption, products which, in the United Kingdom (UK), failed sample test for human consumption and became poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid, known as Vitamin C.
    The plaintiffs urged the court to declare the NBC was negligent and breached the duty of care owed its customers and consumers in the production of Fanta and Sprite with excessive “benzoic acid and sunset” additive.
    Fijabi also urged the court to direct NAFDAC to conduct routine laboratory tests of all soft drinks and allied products of the company, to guarantee their safety.
    Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Abiodun Onidare, in an amended statement of claim, alleged that sometime in March 2007, Fijabi Adebo Holdings purchased large quantities of Coca-Cola, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Fanta Lemon, Fanta Pineapple and Soda Water from NBC for export to the UK for retail purpose.
    “In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and has been in court for nine years, N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid on the cost awarded at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until liquidation of the said sum,” Justice Oyebanji said.

  • Court to NAFDAC: Warn consumers against taking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C

    Court to NAFDAC: Warn consumers against taking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C

    A Lagos High Court, Igbosere, Lagos State, Monday ordered the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to compel Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC) PLC, manufacturers of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks, to include a written warning that the content of the bottles cannot be taken with Vitamin C.

    Justice Adedayo Oyebanji made the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by a Lagos businessman, Dr Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo and his firm, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Ltd against the NBC and NAFDAC.

    The court warned that taking Fanta and Sprite with Vitamin C is poisonous and awarded a cost of N2 million against NAFDAC for failing “to live up to expectations.”

    It declared that NAFDAC failed the citizens of Nigeria by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products which in the United Kingdom (UK) failed sample test for human consumption and which became poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by unsuspecting members of the public with Fanta and Sprite.

    The plaintiffs had urged the court to declare that the NBC was negligent and breached the duty of care owed to its customers and consumers in the production of what it argued was contaminated Fanta and Sprite soft drinks with excessive “benzoic acid and sunset” addictive.

    Fijabi also urged the court to direct NAFDAC to conduct and carry out routine laboratory tests of all the soft drinks and allied products of the company to ensure and guarantee the safety of the consumable products, produced from the NBC factory.

    The plaintiffs’ counsel Mr Abiodun Onidare  in an amended statement of claim alleged that sometime in March, 2007 Fijabi Adebo Holdings purchased large quantities of Coca-Cola, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Fanta Lemon, Fanta Pineapple and Soda Water from the NBC for export to the UK for retail purposes and supply to their customers in the UK.

    They said, among others, that when the consignment of the soft drinks arrived in the UK, fundamental health related matters were raised on the contents and composition of the Fanta and Sprite products by the UK health authorities, specifically the Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s Trading Standard Department of Environment and Economy Directorate.

    The claimants alleged further that NAFDAC failed to carry out necessary tests to determine if the soft drinks were safe for human consumption.

    The claimants demanded N15, 119,619.37 as special damages and N1, 622,000 being the money admittedly received from the claimants.

    However, NBC in its amended statement of defence filed by Mr. T. O. Busari admitted supplying the products but contended that the products manufactured by it were meant for local distribution and consumption as the firm does not manufacture its products for export.

    It denied that it was negligent in the manufacturing of its products as alleged, stressing that stringent quality control procedures were adopted in its production process to ensure that its products were safe for consumption.

    The firm denied that the damages alleged by the claimants were occasioned by its negligence or any fault from the company as the level of the chemical components in its soft drinks is safe for consumption in Nigeria.

    NAFDAC did not file any defence.

    In her judgment, Justice Oyebanji said: “It is imperative to state that the knowledge of the Nigeria Bottling Company that the products were to be exported is immaterial to its being fit for human consumption. The court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the claimants that soft drinks manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of colour or creed.

    ”It is manifest that NAFDAC has been grossly irresponsible in its regulatory duties to the consumers of Fanta and Sprite manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company. In my respective view, NAFDAC has failed the citizens of this great nation by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products which in the United Kingdom failed sample test for human consumption and which become poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by the unsuspecting public with the company’s Fanta or Sprite.

    ”As earlier stated, the court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the claimants that consumable products ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of race, colour or creed.

    ”By its certification as satisfactory, Fanta and Sprite products manufactured by Nigeria bottling company without any written warning on the products that it cannot be taken with Vitamin C, NAFDAC would have by its grossly irresponsible and unacceptable action caused great harm to the health of the unsuspecting public.

    ”The court, in the light of the damming evidence before it showing that NAFDAC has failed to live up to expectations, cannot close its eyes to the grievous implication of allowing the status quo to continue as it is.

    ”For the reasons herein adumbrated in this judgement, the court hereby orders as follows:

    ”That NAFDAC shall forthwith mandate Nigeria Bottling Company to, within 90 days hereof, include on all the bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks manufactured by the company, a written warning that the content of the said bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same becomes poisonous if taken with Vitamin C.

    ”In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and that it has been in court for nine years, costs of N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid on the costs awarded at the rate of 10% per annum until liquidation of the said sum.”

     

  • Fanta thrills teens at RCCG camp

    You can’t underestimate the excitement on children with soft drinks; the mood got a notch higher, having them share several fun and exciting games with peers.

    This was what Fanta, Nigeria’s fruit flavoured soft drink provided for kids at the just concluded 63rdAnnual Convention of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Thrilling over 6,000 tweens and teens who recently attended the RCCG summer camp program, Fanta provided them with the right ambiance of expressing themselves and connecting to their friends through many fun and playful activities.

    According to Assistant Brand Manager, Flavours, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited, Jumoke Oyewole, “Fanta’s outing at the RCCG annual convention is part of our ongoing mission to create more play and fun moments in the world. We are leveraging this opportunity to show Nigerian Tweens and Teens just how much we care about and appreciate them, and to reiterate to them that we are committed to helping them express their youthful passions.”

    Commending the brand for its various initiatives at the camp, Mrs. Franca Akinsanya, one of the parents of the children present at the event, remarked that Fanta did a good job by bringing excitement to the summer camp as her children were thrilled and excited throughout the week.

    “Every day, my children look forward to  enjoying the delicious taste of Fanta. I am not surprised at this fact, because despite being an adult, I am also having a great time being with my excited children at this convention,” said Akinsanya.