The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved to
investigate the operations of the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited to
ascertain the safety of its soft drinks for consumption by Nigerians.
The NBC produces and markets popular brands like Coke, Fanta
and Sprite in the country.
The investigation will also cover other firms producing soft
drinks in the country.
The House ordered the probe following the controversy
surrounding the alleged high concentration of benzoic acid and sunset yellow
additives in Fanta and Sprite.
Health risks are said to be the end result for consumers if
the products are taken in combination with ascorbic acid, better known as
Vitamin C.
A member of the House, Mr. Rotimi Agunsoye, had moved a
motion to draw the attention of lawmakers to the health risks that Nigerians
faced by taking the soft drinks with Vitamin C.
Agunsoye recalled how tests conducted by the United
Kingdom’s health authorities on Nigeria-made Fanta and Sprite concluded that
they were “handful for human consumption.”
He said Nigerians became alarmed when the company’s response
was that the products were “never intended be taken outside the country, which
in other words, means that they were produced for consumption in Nigeria only.”
There was an angry reaction from lawmakers on the floor as
the debate progressed.
Some called for the outright suspension of the marketing of
the products in the country to protect the lives of the citizens.
Others suggested that NBC should print a warning on the
bottles of the products to read, “On Your Own” for consuming the products.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila,
told members that the health risks were real as the issue emanated from a court
judgement.
Gbajabiamila, a lawyer, spoke further, “This motion is not
even an allegation. It is real and factual. It came from a court judgement and
facts were deduced. Coca-Cola did not deny that its products in Nigeria are
meant for consumption in Nigeria alone.
“This matter is about the security and welfare of Nigerians.
When it is about the security and welfare of the people who sent us here, we
owe them a duty to defend their safety. I had thought that as an international
brand, Coca-Cola should have a standard quality control system applicable to
all countries.”
Another member, Mr. Henry Achibong, observed, “If they
admitted that the drinks were meant only for the Nigerian market, it implies
that they want Nigerians to take the drinks and die.”
Another member, Mr. Razak Atunwa, noted that Nigerians who
had the opportunity of tasting Coca-Cola products in other countries, would
easily testify that they tasted differently compared to the Nigerian products.
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