NIGERIA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cleared Nigerian Bottling Company’s Eva bottled water safe for consumption.

The regulatory agency said that following its default in two batches of Eva bottled water produced and bottled by the NBC, it has determined that Eva bottled Water is safe for consumption.

The two batches of Eva Premium Table Water had raised quality concerns after they were reported to change colour as well as contain presence of particles.

Following the alert, NAFDAC issued its own public alert directing the NBC to recall the affected batches of 75cl bottled water as a precautionary step pending investigation by the agency.

The regulator says that NBC had recalled two lots of Eva bottled water (75cl pack size) produced between 22nd and 23rd May 2019 at the NBC ultra-modern factory at Asejire in Ibadan.

The Director-General, NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, noted that the recall was precautionary and in line with standard global food safety practice, reports Beverage Industry News.

The agency also advised distributors wholesalers and retailers of the affected batch to immediately stop their distribution and sale and to return the affected products to the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited, Asejire, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“NAFDAC has taken the required regulatory actions and the public is hereby assured of the safety of Eva Water,” she said.

According to the regulatory body, the company had “voluntarily notified NAFDAC as is expected of every responsible quality-driven organisation with high priority for Food Safety and safety of its consumers.”

Since then, NAFDAC says that it has carried out thorough investigation of the company’s processes supported with detailed laboratory analysis of the water and all other products produced at the factory.

Following the investigation, the agency has revealed that it “is satisfied that adequate corrective and preventive actions are in place to guarantee the quality and safety of Eva water and indeed all Coca Cola products that are registered by NAFDAC.

“It is important to highlight that there is no cause for alarm, as the laboratory reports did not indicate any health threat,” reads a statement issued by NAFDAC.

Eva Premium Table water is one of Nigeria’s popular brand of bottled water owned by Coca-Cola and manufactured by NBC, a franchisee of Coca-Cola.