The four-week old controversy over the safety of Benzoic acid levels in
Fanta and Sprite has taken a new twist, as the Consumer Protection
Council (CPC) said it found samples of Seven Up (a product of Pepsico)
and Lucozade (a product of Glaxo SmithKline) to contain Benzoic levels
of up to 330.0mg/kg and 323.53mg/kg respectively – far higher than the
Nigerian regulatory standard of 250mg/kg; while Fanta and Sprite, two
brands that have been in the eye of the storm, were found to contain
levels that were within the standard.
The CPC made this disclosure in a press release issued on Tuesday on the
outcome of its investigation into possible safety issues in Fanta,
Sprite and other select soft drinks, strongly canvassing for regulatory
review and actions for safer soft drinks in Nigeria.
The Council’s investigation came on the heels of public outcry and
consumers’ apprehension following the action at the Lagos State High
Court in Suit between FijabiAdebo Holdings Limited, Dr Emmanuel
FijabiAdebo and Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd, and the National Agency
for Food and Drug Administration and Control, which alleged that Fanta
Orange and Sprite may have the potentials to be hazardous due to its
incompatibility with the Benzoic Acid Standards in the United Kingdom.
The director general of CPC, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, who disclosed that NAFDAC
and SON have been informed about the outcome of the investigation,
stated 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.
Also in the light of the high level of Benzoic Acid found in isolated
cases of Mirinda and Lucozade tested, she said the Council has called
for further regulatory investigative analysis, action and review in the
levels of the additive in the products.
The director general disclosed that CPC, in commencing its
investigation, obtained from the open market in eight locations within
the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria,65 samples of soft drinks, made up
of Fanta Orange, Sprite, Mirinda and Lucozade and thatthese samples
were sent to Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), a
laboratory under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, for the
analysis of the levels of Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow in the
products.