Consumer Protection Council Raises Concern On Lucozade, Mirinda, Clears Fanta, Sprite

The Consumer Protection Council, CPC, has called for furtherinvestigation of soft drinks sold in Nigeria, following the discovery that thebenzoic acid in Mirinda (a product of Seven Up Bottling Company) and Lucozade(a product of Suntory) is higher than the Nigerian regulatory standard of250mg/kg.

The benzoic levels of both drinks are said to be up to 330mg/kg and 323.53mg/kg respectively.

The CPC made the disclosure on Tuesday during a press briefing on the outcome of its investigation into possible safety issues in Fanta, Sprite and other select soft drinks, while canvassing for regulatory review and actions for safer soft drinks in Nigeria.

The CPC director general, Dupe Atoki, who was later removed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, asserted that the levels of two additives, Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow, in Fanta and Sprite were confirmed through laboratory analysis to be within the Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) limits.

The Nigerian Bottling Company had earlier said the amount of the chemicals were within Nigerian regulatory standards.