Coca-Cola Nigeria has addressed recent allegations from the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) concerning misleading the public.
The company has debunked accusations of deceiving consumers and reiterated its focus on compliance with national regulations and transparency in product labelling.
In a statement released over the weekend, Coca-Cola Nigeria wrote, “Coca-Cola Nigeria provides clear, accessible nutrition information on our packaging in line with national regulatory requirements and is committed to transparency for consumers.”
This response comes after the FCCPC announced potential fines for alleged breaches of Consumer Rights Law by Coca-Cola Nigeria and the Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC).
The FCCPC stated that both companies violated the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) 2018 by not adequately distinguishing between product variants such as Coca-Cola Original Taste and Coca-Cola Original Taste Less Sugar.
The commission’s investigation, which included a review of internal documents and production logs from June 2019 to December 2020, aimed to determine the validity of these claims.
According to the FCCPC, Coca-Cola and NBC continued to use indistinguishable packaging even after regulatory interventions, concluding intentional misrepresentation.
The FCCPC pointed out similar issues with NBC’s Limca Lime-Lemon flavoured drink, where identical packaging was used for Zero Sugar and the 50:50 variant, leading to consumer confusion.
In its statement, Coca-Cola Nigeria noted its priority to consumer interests and collaborative approach with government authorities. “Our priority is safeguarding consumer interests, and we will continue to work constructively with the government on this matter. We strongly believe that the Coca-Cola System in Nigeria has complied with all regulations and look forward to the opportunity to bring this topic to closure,” the company asserted.
Coca-Cola affirms a compliant and transparent entity in the Nigerian market. The company has reassured the public, aiming to maintain consumer trust while addressing the regulatory challenges from FCCPC’s ongoing investigation.
