The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has alerted the public on the revalidation of the expiry date of Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt. It urged the public to desist from purchase and consumption of the product.
The agency’s, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, revealed that some persons, already arrested, tampered with the expiry date (Best Before Date of March 2015) of the yoghurt by concealing and carefully altering the last number in the date to now read as March 2016.
The arrested suspects are now assisting investigators with information on the source of the yogurt, the DG noted.
Recounting how the suspects were nabbed, Orhii said, “UNITOP Catering Services Limited, located at No.21/23 Ogunu Road, Warri, Delta State, was awarded a contract by MSV-Borealis Camp Boss Shipping Line to supply some consumables among which was 1,600 units of yoghurt. “The company assigned the supply of the yoghurt to Minthel-Ouriel International (Nigeria) Limited, 5th Avenue, 512 Road, D Close, House15, FESTAC Town, Lagos. “On May 29, 2015, Miss Martina Iwuchkwu of Minthel-Ouriel, purchased 55 cartons of 6x4x125g of Dunone Ultra Mel Yoghurt with an expiry date of March 2016 from the suspects and delivered to UNITOP Catering Services Limited. “UNITOP Catering Services Limited delivered the supply to MSVBorealis Camp Boss Shipping Line.
However, the Chef Steward of the ship discovered that the Best Before Date of March 2016 had been tampered with by concealing and carefully altering the number 5 such that it appeared 6.” Concerning the intercepted truckload of faked wines and spirits, Orhii said that it was most worrisome that the importer used official government plate number OGFZA (RV885FZE), assigned to Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, to deceive security operatives, adding that the interception was made possible by vigilant officers of the agency.
According to Orhii, “upon examination, the truck was found to contain the following suspected counterfeit and unregistered wines and spirits: J&P Wine; Red Label; Villiera Fired Earth Wine and Jelzin Assorted Flavours”. Others, he said, were JP Chernet Wine; Cask and Cream; E and J Brey among others. He noted that owner of the products has been arrested and interrogated while investigations were on going to unravel the source of his supply.
The shelf live of yoghurt is six-months.