By Chioma Umeha
The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has
confirmed that Fanta and Sprite are fit for human consumption and within the
Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits of Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow.
Stating this Tuesday at a news conference at the Council’s Abuja Headquarters,
the Director General, of the Consumer Protection Council, Mrs. Dupe Atoki, said
that his organisation carried out an Independent laboratory analyses and investigations which confirmed this.
Atoki also said the levels of two additives,
Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow, which raised public apprehension in the
consumption of soft drinks because of the action at the Lagos High Court have
been confirmed through laboratory analysis to be within the Nigerian Industrial
Standards (NIS) limits.
She said that NAFDAC and SON have been informed
about the outcome of the investigation, and 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.
The Director General explained that because of the
high level of Benzoic Acid found in isolated cases of Mirinda and Lucozade
tested, the Council has called for further regulatory investigative analysis,
action and review in the levels of the additive in the products.
On Sunset Yellow, she pointed that the Council has also recommended
“regulatory action for a review of the standard as some countries have already
reduced the approved limit, while some have labeling requirements for its use,
and some others have adopted its outright ban”
Mrs Atoki disclosed that the CPC, in the course of
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. These samples, according to her 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.
She noted that the approved NIS limit for Benzoic
Acid is 250mg/Kg when combined with Ascorbic Acid, also known as Vitamin C and
300mg/Kg without Ascorbic Acid, while that of “Sunset Yellow as specified by
Codex Alimentarius Commission and NAFDAC is 100mg/Kg, which is similar to
standards in China, South Africa and Middle East”.
The Director-General pointed out that the results
of the tests carried out by SHESTCO revealed “Benzoic Acid levels in Fanta
Orange as ranging from 5.09mg/L – 197.0mg/L; Sprite 2.82mg/L – 239.0mg/L;
Mirinda, a product of 7UP Bottling Company 0.56mg/L – 330.9mg/L; and Lucozade formerly
produced by Glaxo SmithKline 2.26mg/L – 323.53mg/L”.
The CPC boss further disclosed that the laboratory
results also revealed that the “levels of Sunset Yellow in 32 samples of Fanta
Orange products were within the range of 23.1mg/L -35.5mg/L, while those of
Mirinda ranged between 26.1mg/L and 34.0mg/L and those of Lucozade ranged from
22.7mg/L –30.0mg/L.”
She pointed out that the Council also found that
Benzoic Acid levels in some of the sampled soft drinks which were obtained from
the open market, recorded extremely low levels of 0.56mg/L to 2.26mg/L and that
the results also showed isolated cases of Mirinda and Lucozade with Benzoic
Acid levels of 330.9mg/L and 323.53mg/L respectively, which are above the NIS
limit.
The CPC’s investigation came on the heels of
public outcry and consumers’ apprehension following the action at the Lagos
State High Court in suit between Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited, Dr Emmanuel
Fijabi Adebo 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.
Mrs. Atoki explained that “Benzoic Acid, a
preservative used in food and soft drinks, inhibits microbial growth and helps
in the achievement of shelf life in products where it is used and it also helps
to retain the integrity of soft drinks so that taste, colour and flavour are
consistent over the shelf life period”
She stated that Sunset Yellow, which is a
petroleum-derived orange azo dye widely used in the production of soft drinks,
ice-creams, pastries, among others, gives a pleasant appearance to food and drinks.
