The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said the content of Japata Alcoholic Bitters in circulation is more harmful than the one submitted for testing and registration.
NAFDAC revealed this in a statement on Friday, advising Nigerians to be watchful of the products they consume.
The NAFDAC alert with No. 027/2022 signed by NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, was posted on the official website of NAFDAC.
The agency stated that during the investigation, samples of Japata Alcoholic Bitters were collected from the site of production, No. 30 Edegbami Offor Street, off Destiny Bus Stop, Isheri-Oshun Street, Alimosho LGA, Lagos State, and different market locations.
These samples were then sent to the NAFDAC laboratory, where an analysis was carried out, noting that findings from the analysis informed the alert.
“NAFDAC implores distributors, retailers, and the public to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid consumption, sale, and distribution of the products” adding that Nigerians should report to the nearest NAFDAC office whenever they spot the product in the market.
“Adverse reaction experienced from the use of any of the products should be reported via NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 or 0800-1-623322) TOLL-FREE from all networks) or [email protected] or e-Reporting platform available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng.”
This is the second time NAFDAC is raising concerns over Japata, an alcoholic drink produced by Chigodson International Company Ltd., in four months.
“An alcoholic bitters product that is of grave concern is Japata Alcoholic bitters, which was duly registered by NAFDAC but laced with marijuana or cannabis compared to the registered product that had only ethanol. Through intelligence, NAFDAC was able to shut down the company. This product, when tested in the laboratory, caused the death of the mice within five minutes,” NAFDAC wrote on its website.
“The alcoholic content was doubled compared with the registered product. The retained samples, kept at the point of registration, did not cause any injury to the animals.
“The product laced with cannabis was said to cause altered state of mind and psychological problems to the user. The owner of the company is on the run and the matter has been shared with NDLEA.”
The agency stated that laboratory findings have confirmed that Japata Alcoholic Bitters in circulation were contaminated, unwholesome, and unfit for humans to consume.
NAFDAC also listed Five Minutes Power, Gamzaki Tradomedical, Barakallahu, Sabon Karfi and Haonu Laha herbal mixtures as harmful liquor sold to the public.
Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture is registered with NAFDAC but laced with unapproved substances that are injurious to the body.
A considerable section of the male population consumes alcoholic bitters as a regular drink. Some consumers claim that these alcoholic bitters have health benefits, but there is no proof for such claims.
Many of such alcoholic bitters are sold in public places without regulation and restriction.
