UPDATE: Contaminated Sprite From Nigerian Bottling Company in Circulation

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that unknown quantities of contaminated Sprite, a Nigerian soft drink, have entered the market.

NAFDAC shared its official statement to notify the public through a tweet on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the affected 50cl glass bottles NAFDAC has found to be contaminated came from the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited’s Abuja plant.

“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying the public of a batch of unwholesome Sprite 50cl glass bottles circulating in Nigeria. This product was discovered following a consumer complaint received and investigated by the post-marketing surveillance unit of the Agency,” NAFDAC stated.

“On investigation, at the point of purchase and supplier’s address, over five (5) crates of the implicated batch of Sprite 50cl glass bottles were discovered to be contaminated with particles.

“The affected batch of the unwholesome product has been sampled for laboratory analysis in the NAFDAC laboratory and the Agency has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to carry out surveillance and mop up the implicated batch of the unwholesome product.

“Similarly, a comprehensive current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) Inspection of the manufacturing site is to be carried out by the Agency. This is to find the root cause of the contamination and ensure compliance to marketing authorization.

“Furthermore, the company, (Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (Abuja plant) has been directed to recall the implicated batch of the unwholesome product and report to NAFDAC for effective monitoring.”

NAFDAC and the Nigerian Bottling Company have not recovered all the contaminated bottles of Sprite.

Soft drink consumers must, therefore, take care to examine the popular soft drink before sales or consumption.