Manufacturers of Coca Cola, Fanta and Sprite soft drinks, the Nigerian Bottling Company Plc, has cleared the air over what it described as misleading information on the safety of benzoic and ascorbic acids as ingredients in soft drinks.
Contrary to the argument of critics that both Fanta and Sprite have excess benzoic levels, the Director, Legal, Public Affairs and Communications, Mrs. Sade Morgan, explained that the benzoic levels in the drinks are 200 mg/kg, 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.
She added 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,” she said.
Given the fact that the preservatives levels in the soft drinks produced and sold by NBC in Nigeria are in compliance with the levels approved by all relevant national regulators, she stated that there is no truth in the report that these products would become poisonous if consumed alongside Vitamin C.
Meanwhile, in the judgment delivered on February 15, in a suit involving Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited and Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo vs. NBC and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, a 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.
“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, is not only unfounded, but also undermines the entire food and beverage industry in Nigeria. NBC hereby assures our consumers and members of the public of our unwavering commitment to product quality, safety and customer satisfaction,” she said.
