Product defect: NBC complies with NAFDAC’s directive •Withdraws 75cl Eva table water from circulation

THE Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), on Saturday, said it had begun the withdrawal of the two batches of its 75 centilitre Eva table water produced between May 22 and 23, this year, following the detecting of a defect in the product.

Following the discovery of the defect, NBC said it notified the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) of the development.

NAFDAC, on Saturday, in a series of tweets, warned members of the public to desist from consumption of the 75 cl Eva brand due to the defects.

NBC, in a statement made available to Sunday Tribune by its Director, Public Affairs and Communications, Ekuma Eze, explained that it had already commenced the withdrawal of the affected batches of 75 cl Eva Water produced at its Asejire Plant even before NAFDAC’s directive.

NBC pledged its readiness to continue to cooperate with NAFDAC in ensuring retrieval of the affected batches of water, urging consumers in possession of products to return them to its nearest offices or distributors, dealers for replacement.

“Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) is aware of Public Alert No. 0011/2019, issued by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

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“As noted in the alert, on 20th of June 2019 NBC voluntarily notified NAFDAC of two batches of Eva Water (75cl) produced from May 22-23, 2019 in our Asejire Plant, which did not meet our quality standards.

“We had commenced withdrawal of the affected batches which are 220519.14.27 AC4 and 230519.15.15 AC4, prior to the NAFDAC announcement and are cooperating with the agency in their investigation.

“We regret the inconvenience this issue may have caused our consumers, and we request consumers in possession of products with the stated batch numbers to return them to our nearest offices or distributors/dealers for replacement.

“We confirm that there are no issues with other batches of our premium Eva Water and reassure our consumers of our commitment to highest quality standards, product safety and consumer satisfaction,” Eze said in the statement.

NAFDAC, in its tweets, confirmed that it issued the notice after it was put on notice by the NBC, stating that the affected Eva water “changes from colourless to light green and has particles.”

The agency said it had commenced investigations into the development, but urged Nigerians to stay away from the product until further notice.

“The production of Eva Premium Table Water 75cl at Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Asejire, Oyo State has been suspended pending the outcome of investigation being conducted by the agency.

“NAFDAC implores distributors, wholesalers and retailers to immediately stop the distribution and sale of the affected Eva Premium Table Water 75cl. They should return the stock of the affected product in their possession to Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Asejire, Ibadan, Oyo State,” NAFDAC tweeted.