The Federal Ministry of Health yesterday clarified the position of Fanta and Sprite, certifying both drinks as safe for consumers. ..................................................................... This development arises from the 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 order 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 ........................................................................ According to the statement signed by Akinola Boade, Director of Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, 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. On whether the levels of additives introduced as preservatives are within specification or not, the statement revealed: “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. ....................................................................... There has been widespread public fear that Fanta and Sprite produced by NBC Nigeria failed the UK benzoic test and therefore harmful to consumers. But the statement from the health ministry also clarified the difference between the standard of Fanta and Sprite in Nigeria and United Kingdom. According to the statement, “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); and Food products being imported into a country must comply with the relevant standards of the destination country.” The statement also revealed that 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,” said the ministry in the statement. “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. For the benefit of the health of all Nigerians, all bottling companies are encouraged to insert advisory warnings on all products as necessary,” the Federal Ministry of Health advised. The Honourable Minister of Health had summoned a meeting of the Department of Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health, NAFDAC, and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the issues raised by the judgement.

#onlyinNigeria. It's well wit us

Nigeria Nigerians

alphamodel1:
#onlyinNigeria. It's well wit us

Let's appreciate the fact that it doesn't take too long before NBC sort these people out.
They must have given them a huge amount of dough.

smithsydny:
Nigeria Nigerians

South African South Africans..... Lol

smithsydny:
Nigeria Nigerians

South African South Africans..... Lol Start taking Sprite and Fanta o, it's good for your health.

Ifecoded:

Let's appreciate the fact that it doesn't take too long before NBC sort these people out.
They must have given them a huge amount of dough.

Yes o!

alphamodel1:
Yes o!

Lol

Ifecoded:

South African South Africans..... Lol
Start taking Sprite and Fanta o, it's good for your health.

this one week me ooo

smithsydny:
this one week me ooo

Lolz

This link says otherwise http://newtelegraphonline.com/news/nigerians-shun-fanta-sprite/

liljboy:
This link says otherwise http://newtelegraphonline.com/news/nigerians-shun-fanta-sprite/

Actually read it on Today.ng, don't know how credible the site is.