The Lagos State Government, through its Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has described Nagiko Tomato as safe for consumption.
The General Manager, LASCOPA, Mr Afolabi Solebo, confirmed this in a statement on Monday in Lagos.
According to him, the product does not pose any health hazard to the consuming public.
This is contrary to claims made by Mrs Chioma Egodi on Facebook, about the state of the tin tomato product – NAGIKO Tomato Mix 400g.
Recall that Egodi, had on Sept. 17, raised concern about the product through a Facebook post, alleging that the said product has a sugary taste.
Solebo said the certification by LASCOPA on the product followed the outcome of the laboratory tests, which the product was subjected to, upon the complaint from the consumer.
He said to authenticate Egodi’s claim, the agency embarked on an independent investigation by inviting Erisco Foods Nigeria Ltd., the producer of the product, and Egodi to two different meetings held on Oct. 3 and Oct. 10.
According to him, the outcome of the meetings informed the decision of LASCOPA to request for samples of the product.
”The product was subsequently taken to the laboratory for test and analysis, as well as to ascertain the conformity of the sets of parameters of the product samples to establish if the product is safe for consumption or otherwise.
”It must be noted that two samples of the product were taken from Erisco Foods Company and another two sets of samples were obtained from a market survey by LASCOPA, to balance and ensure a true reflection of the state of the product from both the company and the market.
”The laboratory analysis of the two sets of samples collected for Microbial and Physicochemical tests showed that the product passed all the tested parameters and it is safe for consumption, based on the outcome of the test conducted,” he said. (NAN)
