Reps ad-hoc committee to investigate carbonated soft drinks producers


Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Reps
Following a motion by Rep Rotimi Agunsoye on Need To Protect Nigerians From The Harmful Effects of Fanta and Sprite Beverages Produced By Nigerian Bottling Company, the House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to establish whether carbonated soft drinks produced in Nigeria by Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC), 7-Up Bottling Company and others are fit for human consumption.

Also, the committee will also liaise with the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to ascertain the chemical composition of all carbonated drinks produced and marketed in Nigeria.

Making his submission on the floor of the House, Agunsoye said, ”recent publications on two or three products of the Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd which could cause severe and or terminal harm on unsuspecting members of the public.

”Sprite and Fanta, which are products of the Coca-Cola Company are said to contain unhealthy concentrations of Benzoic Acid and Sunset Yellow additives which become poisonous when combined with Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin C.

“The drinks which were produced in Nigeria were tested by the UK Health authorities,( Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council4 Trading Standard Department of Environment and Economy Directorate) and were discovered to be harmful for human consumption.


The lawmaker further stressed that what was worrisome was the fact that “the company’s response when it was revealed was that they never intended for the drinks to be taken outside the country, which in other words, means they were produced for consumption in Nigeria only.

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