Are Coca-Cola Products in Nigeria Safe? Everything you need to know

Issues Arising From the Lagos High Court Judgement in Fijabi Holdings and another versus Nigerian Bottling Company and NAFDAC

Background

Arising from the recent court judgement on the case filed by Fijabi Holdings and another versus Nigeria Bottling Company and NAFDAC (joined as a nominal party), the Honourable Minister of Health summoned a meeting of the Department of Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to address the related issues.

The following were the findings:

1. 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.

2. Are levels of additives introduced as preservatives within specification?

· Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) is the organ established by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) to set internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, guidelines relating to foods, food production, and food safety.

· In the case of Benzoic acid, the standard set by Codex was 600mg/kg until recently reviewed to 250mg/kg and adopted in 2016. (CODEX STAN 192–1995 revised 2015 and 2016).

· With reference to the Codex standard and other relevant documents, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) as the standard setting body in Nigeria in consultation with technical experts and relevant stakeholders elaborated the standard of benzoic acid in soft drinks to be at 250mg/kg based on the National climatic and storage conditions. This standard has been in existence since 1997 and revised in 2008. (NIS 217:2008)

· The levels of benzoic acid in Fanta (1 batch) and Sprite (2 batches) presented by the claimant in the court are 188.64mg/kg, 201.06mg/kg and 161.5mg/kg respectively.

· These levels are in compliance with both the Codex and Nigeria Industrial Standards.

3. Are Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria safe for consumption?

· Yes, the Coca-Cola products manufactured in Nigeria are safe for consumption in view of the following reasons:

Sierra Leone Pastor discovers 706-carat diamond in village, hands it over the President

A pastor in Sierra Leone has discovered the largest uncut diamond found in more than four decades in this West African country and has turned it over to the government, saying he hopes it helps to boost recent development in his impoverished nation.

Pastor Emmanuel Momoh found the 706-carat alluvial diamond in Yakadu village in Sierra Leone's diamond-rich east, and it was presented to President Ernest Bai Koroma on Wednesday, said presidential spokesman Abdulai Bayraytay.

The gem, a bit smaller than a hockey puck, is the second largest diamond found in Sierra Leone. In 1972, the 968.9-carat Star of Sierra Leone was found by miners and sold for about $2.5 million.

Momoh told The Associated Press that he turned in the diamond because he was touched by the development being undertaken in Kono District, where the gem was found. He cited road construction and improvements to electricity after almost 30 years of blackouts.

"I believe the government can do more, especially at a time when the country is undergoing some economic challenges," he said.

Sierra Leone's diamond wealth fueled a decade-long civil war that ended in 2002. Despite its mineral wealth, the country remains one of the poorest in the world.

It was not immediately clear how the pastor came across the diamond.

NITDA Backs Review of Policy On Universal Software for eHealth

Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami), director general, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has described the use of universal software for electronic health records in health facilities and training schools in Nigeria as time and cost saving measure.

He made the remark while receiving in his office a delegation of Health Records Officers Registration Board of Nigeria (HRORBN) led by the Chief Executive Officer.

Dr. Pantami ensured them of his full collaboration and promised to review the document and identify possible areas of collaboration.

He also encouraged the MDAs to patronise our local content products and challenge the producer in given a more qualitative product.

On NITDA’s regulatory role, Pantami stated that, it is an offence for any MDA to deploy IT products in the nation without a clearance from NITDA. However, he appreciated the effort of the HRORBN who perceive it necessary to come through NITDA before development of the software.

System Collapse Worsens Power Supply, as Electricity Generation Drops to 1,681MW

The collapse of the transmission infrastructure has worsened power supply as generation averaged 1,681.36 megawatts yesterday, down from a peak of 3,131.1 megawatts generated before the system collapsed on Sunday night, dropping generation to 10 megawatts

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THISDAY gathered that before the system collapsed, power generation on Saturday had peaked at 3,410 megawatts, which lasted for only two hours, before it dropped to 2,295.93 megawatts.

The Daily Hourly Demand Report obtained by THISDAY from the National Control Centre at Osogbo showed that 2,295.93 megawatts was generated for seven hours that extended till Sunday, before it dropped to 1,745.51 megawatts, which lasted for 10 hours.

While the system collapsed at exactly 7.27 pm on Sunday, generation ramped up to average 1,681.36 megawatts yesterday.

No Plastic Rice, Only Contaminated Rice - NAFDAC, CUSTOMS

Full Laboratory Report on Quality of Suspected Fake Rice Consignment
JOINT PRESS BRIEFING BY THE AG.DIRECTOR GENERAL, NATIONAL AGENCY FOR FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND CONTROL (NAFDAC) MRS. YETUNDE ONI AND THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL, NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE, COL. HAMEED ALI (RTD) ON THE QUALITY OF THE SUSPECTED FAKE RICE CONSIGNMENT SEIZED BY NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE AT NAFDAC CORPORATE HEADQUATERS ABUJA ON 29TH DECEMBER, 2016

PROTOCOL

It gives me great pleasure to address you today, 29th December, 2016 on the quality of the suspected fake rice seized by the men of Nigeria Customs Service. The rumour was that plastic rice was in circulation and a consignment had been seized by Customs.

Following the report of the seizure of the "suspected fake rice", by men of Nigeria Customs Service, the Agency swung into action by sending team of inspectors to the office of the Customs Area Comptroller, Federal Operations Ikeja, Lagos to draw samples from the seized consignment for Laboratory analysis. The product, branded as “Best Tomato” was in 25kg pack size, without NAFDAC number, no batch number, no date markings and no details of the manufacturer. The preliminary result of the analysis was

Proposed data tariff hike will prevent monopoly – NCC

The Nigerian Communications Commission has said the proposed hike in data tariff by telecommunication companies is meant to protect the interest of the subscribers and prevent monopoly.

The Deputy Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, Mr. Ismail Adedigba, said this in Osogbo on the sidelines of the 81st consumer outreach programme held in Osogbo.

He said the agency had not given up on the proposed data tariff increment, saying the NCC was working to protect the interest of Nigerians in order to prevent telecom giants from ripping them off at the end.

Adedigba explained that some telecoms giants could charge very low tariff just to prevent new entrants in the sector, adding that after warding off competition, they would hike their price astronomically and subscribers would be at their mercy.

Niger Rice Mill to reduce Unemployment - Gov

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has said the unemployment rate in the state will reduce next year as no fewer than 10,000 workers will be engaged at the Niger State Rice Mill.

He spoke at the inauguration of the multi-million dollar Integrated Rice Processing and Milling Complex built by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Bida, the state capital.

He said the Rice Mill will also boost agriculture in the state with the production of 1.5 metric tonnes of rice daily.

“It is expected that the Rice Mill will generate over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs, when it comes fully on stream and this will engage our youths and women as from next year,”he said.

Amazon's first drone-powered delivery takes 13 minutes

Drone delivery has begun.

On Dec. 7, a bag of popcorn, along with an Amazon Fire TV stick, left a Cambridge warehouse in the U.K. and 13 minutes later, both were accepted by an Amazon customer, one of two who had agreed to be part of the test program.

A video posted by Amazon shows a fully autonomous drone, no humans involved, taking off from the warehouse and flying over fields to deposit the package just outside the customer's home.

Amazon, with drones, aims to make deliveries in 30 minutes or less. Packages must weigh five pounds or less and can be delivered only during the day and in clear weather. The Seattle-based company plans to expand the trial to hundreds of users.

Drama In Ado Ekiti Markets As Iyaloja Forcefully Reduces Foodstuff Prices

Displeased by the skyrocketing prices of food items in Ekiti markets, the monarchs under the Council of Traditional Rulers, in conjunction with Market Women Association of Nigeria, have commenced forceful reduction in prices of some commodities in all the towns in the state.

This led to a drama in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Tuesday, when the Iyaloja, Mrs Omowaye Oso, led a task force that went round some markets to force down ‘high’ prices of foodstuff on sale.

50kg bag of rice now N8,000 in Ebonyi – CBN

Central Bank of Nigeria Tuesday in Yenagoa said that a 50 kg bag of Nigeria rice is selling in Ebonyi for N8,000.

This was disclosed by the Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN, Mr Isaac Okoroafor, in Bayelsa State.

Speaking at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers, he said: “We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme; 50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,”.

Tomato Paste Giant’s Troubles Embody Nigeria’s Economic Woes

Nigeria is sub-Saharan Africa’s largest grower of tomatoes, but it is also the biggest importer of tomato paste.

This month, Nigeria’s largest tomato paste manufacturer, Erisco Foods, announced that it would close its 1,500-worker strong factory in Lagos’s industrial area Oregun, and move production to China. It will then import its finished products

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