Drinking Fanta, Sprite with Vitamin C is toxic, Nigerian Court rules; slams NAFDAC

A Nigerian Court has ordered the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control to direct the Nigeria Bottling Company Plc., manufacturers of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks, to include a warning on the bottles of the product, that its content cannot be taken with Vitamin C.

Justice Adedayo Oyebanji of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere, gave the order following a suit filed by a businessman, Fijabi Adebo, and his firm, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Ltd.

The legal action, which was instituted in 2008, had NBC and NAFDAC as defendants.

Mr. Fijabi’s lawyer, Abiodun Onidare, told the court that his client bought large quantities of different products from NBC for export to the UK but when they arrived at their destination, Fanta and Sprite failed UK Health Authorities’ (Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council’s Trading Standards Department of Environment and Economy Directorate) sample test for human consumption, as they became poisonous when mixed with Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C).

The claimants demanded N15.1 million as special damages and N1.6 million being the money the NBC admitted it received from the claimants.
In its defense, the NBC, through its lawyer, T. O. Busari, said it was not negligent as claimed by the plaintiff, saying it has stringent quality control procedures to ensure that its products are safe for end-user consumption.

The NBC argued that the levels of the chemical components in its soft drinks are safe for consumption in Nigeria and that the claimants are not entitled to the recovery of damages arising from their illegal exportation of products meant for local distribution.
NAFDAC did not file any defense in the case.

Justice Oyebanji ruled that the knowledge of the Nigeria Bottling Company that the products were to be exported was immaterial to its being fit for human consumption.

“The court is in absolute agreement with the learned counsel for the claimants that soft drinks manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of colour or creed,” he said.

“It is manifest that NAFDAC has been grossly irresponsible in its regulatory duties to the consumers of Fanta and Sprite manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company.”

The judge said NAFDAC had failed Nigerians by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption, products which in the United Kingdom failed sample test for human consumption and which become poisonous in the presence of Ascorbic Acid ordinarily known as Vitamin C, which can be freely taken by the unsuspecting public with the company’s Fanta or Sprite.

“The court, in the light of the damning evidence before it showing that NAFDAC has failed to live up to expectations, cannot close its eyes to the grievous implication of allowing the status quo to continue as it is,” the judge said.

He ruled that, “That NAFDAC shall forthwith mandate Nigeria Bottling Company to, within 90 days hereof, include on all the bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks manufactured by the company, a written warning that the content of the said bottles of Fanta and Sprite soft drinks cannot be taken with Vitamin C as same becomes poisonous if taken with Vitamin C.

“In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and that it has been in court for nine years, costs of N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid on the costs awarded at the rate of 10% per annum until liquidation of the said sum.”

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/226100-drinking-fanta-sprite-vitamin-c-toxic-nigerian-court-rules-slams-nafdac.html

“In consideration of the fact that this case was filed in 2008 and that it has been in court for nine years, costs of N2 million is awarded against NAFDAC. Interest shall be paid on the costs awarded at the rate of 10% per annum until liquidation of the said sum.”

Imagine, this case has been lingering for 9 good years!

Chai!

it is quite sad dat a lot of things in our country must undergo corruption because I see no reason d case would be dragged for 9 years where they know d man is right
secondly, NBC writing on Fanta and sprite that it shld nt be taken wit vit C is a total waste of time because we consume vit C in almost all our meals, vit C is present in fuits, veg, yam in fact in most of our food there is always a percentage of vit C, so I would expect them to take a more critical approach jst like a car manufacturing company would in case of a failed brake. All sprite and Fanta in the market should be called back and if the NBC can't find a way to produce a much healthier product, den dia production must stop!
Gone are those days Nigerians were used as lab rats, besides when they are through with poisoning us, they would start producing healthier batch for export.
JOIN US TO SAY NO TO COMPANIES THAT WANTS TO FATTEN THEIR POCKET AND CUT SHORT OUR LIFE SPAN!!!

prewtyjulie:
it is quite sad dat a lot of things in our country must undergo corruption because I see no reason d case would be dragged for 9 years where they know d man is right
secondly, NBC writing on Fanta and sprite that it shld nt be taken wit vit C is a total waste of time because we consume vit C in almost all our meals, vit C is present in fuits, veg, yam in fact in most of our food there is always a percentage of vit C, so I would expect them to take a more critical approach jst like a car manufacturing company would in case of a failed brake. All sprite and Fanta in the market should be called back and if the NBC can't find a way to produce a much healthier product, den dia production must stop!
Gone are those days Nigerians were used as lab rats, besides when they are through with poisoning us, they would start producing healthier batch for export.
JOIN US TO SAY NO TO COMPANIES THAT WANTS TO FATTEN THEIR POCKET AND CUT SHORT OUR LIFE SPAN!!!

All these conspiracy theorist sef .

The court didn't say that the drinks are toxic, but taking them with Vitamin C. Of course that's normal because certain things, which are not necessarily toxic, could react with each other to yield toxic stuffs. No big deal! Just make sure that the warning is clear!

There's no drink in the market, except water and purely fruit drinks, that doesn't contain chemicals. These chemicals HAVE certain substances that if they dare react with would yield a toxic substance.

No one is trying to harm you.

ikp120:


All these conspiracy theorist sef .

Read well o madam. The court didn't say that the drinks are toxic, but taking them with Vitamin C. Of course that's normal because certain things, which are not necessarily toxic, could react with each other to yield toxic stuffs. No big deal! Just make sure that the warning is clear!

before u quote some1, take ur time to read tru nd Google more if need be!
vit C is not only available in synthetic form( drug), but also present in food, so ask urself what is going on internally in the system of that child that is consuming her lunch rice, stew and salad( leafy greens contain high amnt of vit C) with her water bottle filled with the Fanta drink, or is her safety of no importance to u?!
Mr no big deal, wat abt d old, illiterate N children that don't read labels b4 consumption?
the manufactures of those additives have specified healthy quantities, so when it is hazardous it is OK for them to reject it from being imported to them and we in Nigeria can equally reject it.

prewtyjulie:


before u quote some1, take ur time to read tru nd Google more if need be!
vit C is not only available in synthetic form( drug), but also present in food, so ask urself what is going on internally in the system of that child that is consuming her lunch rice, stew and salad( leafy greens contain high amnt of vit C) with her water bottle filled with the Fanta drink, or is her safety of no importance to u?!
Mr no big deal, wat abt d old, illiterate N children that don't read labels b4 consumption?
the manufactures of those additives have specified healthy quantities, so when it is hazardous it is OK for them to reject it from being imported to them and we in Nigeria can equally reject it.

You should have asked the form of Vitamin C they're referring to before lashing out. .

ikp120:


You should have asked the form of Vitamin C they're referring to before lashing out. .

sorry to lash out BT ur comment rubbed me wrongly.
vit C is only 1 no variety, jst compounds that are attached to it for different reasons makes dem vary but ascorbic acid is anoda name for vit C

P.S am a nutritionist- dietitian!

ikp120:


All these conspiracy theorist sef .

The court didn't say that the drinks are toxic, but taking them with Vitamin C. Of course that's normal because certain things, which are not necessarily toxic, could react with each other to yield toxic stuffs. No big deal! Just make sure that the warning is clear!

There's no drink in the market, except water and purely fruit drinks, that doesn't contain chemicals. These chemicals HAVE certain substances that if they dare react with would yield a toxic substance.

No one is trying to harm you.

Mr pls I know u av enough mb to quote me, go to Google N read more on
a) food additives
b) reasons for using food additives
c) regulations and standards concerning food additives
d) dangers of food additives
when u are tru den I can converse with u on a better level not dis ur ignorant one.

prewtyjulie:


sorry to lash out BT ur comment rubbed me wrongly.
vit C is only 1 no variety, jst compounds that are attached to it for different reasons makes dem vary but ascorbic acid is anoda name for vit C

P.S am a nutritionist- dietitian!

Alright. I guess you know that there's natural and synthetic Vitamin C? Those folks could likely be referring to synthetic, not natural form of Vitamin C, which contain different compositions entirely but are all labelled as "Vitamin C".
Mineral ascorbates such as Sodium ascorbate Calcium ascorbate, Magnesium ascorbate, Potassium ascorbate, Manganese ascorbate, Zinc ascorbate, Molybdenum ascorbate, Chromium ascorbate are also referred to as "Vitamin C".

Please being a nutritionist- dietitian doesn't change a thing in the world.

prewtyjulie:


Mr pls I know u av enough mb to quote me, go to Google N read more on
a) food additives
b) reasons for using food additives
c) regulations and standards concerning food additives
d) dangers of food additives
when u are tru den I can converse with u on a better level not dis ur ignorant one.

Food addictives? Dangers of food addictives? Geez!

You could as well ask me to Google the dangers of keeping beards in order to get me to shave off my beards.

WTF! Everything has got its own side effects if taken wrongly.