Apparently
worried by reports alleging that some soft drinks in the country could be
dangerous to health, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Tuesday banned the
serving and consumption of Coke, Sprite and Fanta at government functions in
the state.
The governor gave the directive during a
meeting with traditional rulers and town union executives in the state.
A Lagos State High Court in a suit between
Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited and Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo against the Nigerian
Bottling Company Ltd and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration
and Control, alleged that Fanta Orange and Sprite may be hazardous if consumed
with vitamin C.
The court said the drinks may contain high
levels of two additives, benzoic acid and sunset yellow, which may be dangerous
for human consumption.
But the Nigerian Bottling Company, NBC,
debunked the allegations maintaining that the amount of the chemicals in its
products, including Fanta and Sprite, were within Nigerian regulatory
standards.
Also, an investigation by the Consumer
Protection Council, CPC, found that the level of benzoic acid in Fanta and
Sprite were within the Nigerian approved standard. Instead, the CPC, found that
benzoic acid levels in two other non-NBC products, Lucozade and Mirinda, had
much higher contents than that approved by Nigerian regulators.
The CPC has since called for fresh
investigation of all soft drinks sold in Nigeria.
The confusion on the status of the drinks may
have informed the decision of the Ebonyi governor.
Mr.
Umahi on entering the governor’s lodge, venue of the Tuesday meeting, noticed
the soft drinks on the tables.
Immediately he got to his seat, he requested
for the microphone while still standing.
He then proceeded to ask the ushers to remove
all bottles of coke, sprite and fanta from the hall as according to him, they
are dangerous to health
“I don’t want these brands of soft drink to be
served in any government function again,” he said.
Immediately, the ushers and protocol officers
evacuated the drinks from the tables out of the hall.
-Premium Times
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