FCCPC summons Erisco Foods as company reacts to Chioma Okoli’s arrest over feedback on product

*Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice-Chairman and CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, confirms the market regulator would engage the Nigeria Police to determine exact current location of arrested Ms. Chioma Okoli while issuing summons to Erisco Foods Limited

*Erisco Foods defends action, says ‘we will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the arrest and reported transfer of Ms. Chioma Okoli, a Nigerian woman and consumer by the Police to Abuja, FCT, over her negative comment on Nagiko Tomato Mix product of Erisco Foods Limited, Lagos, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) is said to have issued a summon to the company over the matter.

ConsumerConnect reports Barr. Babatunde Irukera, Executive Vice-Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer (EVC/CEO) of FCCPC, had announced the arrest of Ms. Okoli, over her post on Facebook, one of the leading social media platforms.

Chief (Dr.) Eric Umeofia, Founder/Chairman of Erisco Foods Limited 

Irukera, a lawyer, in a post via the Commission’s verified X handle (formerly Twitter) Monday, September 25, 2023, said the FCCPC operatives confirmed to him that the suspect had been transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

“UPDATE: @fccpcnigeria operatives have confirmed arrest & transfer of the case to Abuja by the Police Force. She was no longer at the station on arrival.

“Working to determine the exact current location and engaging Force Headquarters in Abuja,” Irukera posted.

Irukera noted the FCCPC would be working to determine exact current location and engaging Force HQ in Abuja.

“Summons being issued to @EriscoFoodsLtd immediately,” he stated.

The FCCPC Executive Vice-Chairman added: “We have a team seeking to clarify arrest/detention status of the subject; & activating regulatory process to secure explanation from @EriscoFoodsLtd.”

Recall that Erisco Foods Limited had urged the Police to apprehend Ms. Okoli for her personal review and testimony about brand experience with the company’s tomato paste.

The consumer, who equally goes by the name “Chioma Egodi Jnr” on the leading social media platform, posted the image of the affected tomato tin product, which she stated she earlier bought from a store.

She explained that went to the market September 16 with the intention of buying Gino or Sonia brand of tomato paste but could not find them around.

However, she disclosed that she later bought the Nagiko Tomato mix of Erisco Foods, which she had planned to use in making stew.

In terms of her consumer experience of the product, the tomato paste contains an unhealthy amount of sugar, and therefore, not fit for human consumption.

Okoli wrote the brand experience on her Facebook page: “I decided to taste it. Sugar is just too much.

“When I opened it, I decided to taste it, Omo! Sugar is just too much!”

Okoli, in her post, as well urged other Facebook users to confirm if they had used the product before, apparently to ascertain if they had a similar experience with the product.

The consumer her brand experience using Nagiko Tomato Mix was distasteful, describing it as containing too much sugar and unfit for human consumption.

We’ll take necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation – Erisco Foods

Reacting to the development regarding the arrest of Ms. Okoli, Erisco Foods Limited would have none of Okoli’s negative comment on its product.

The company, in a statement, said: “The attention of Erisco Foods Limited has been drawn to a Facebook post by one Chioma Egodi Jnr on September 17, 2023, alleging that Nagiko Tomato Mix, one of the three tomato paste variants of Erisco Foods Limited, contains an unhealthy amount of sugar and therefore not fit for human consumption.

It said: “While this claim is untrue and unfounded in its entirety, we wish to put on record that Erisco Foods Limited, from inception Is built on the vision and mission to manufacture and promote healthy, wholly Made-in-Nigeria tomato products with the commitment to feeding not only Nigerians but also Africans with healthy foods.”

The company’s Management also stated that “our initial reaction was to ignore and disregard the post, which was obviously intended to mislead our esteemed customers and discredit the image of Erisco Foods Limited.”

The statement noted that the company, however, “will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation.”

The food company rather described as “untrue and unfounded”, that its tomato paste tastes sugary in the mouth of consumers.

Erisco also stated the company was built on the vision and mission to manufacture and promote healthy and wholly Made-in-Nigeria tomato products with a commitment to feed(ing) Africa, including Nigeria.

Some elements and syndicates uncomfortable with our company’s market dominance, Management alleges

Erisco Foods, in the statement, further argued that similar posts were previously instigated by “some elements and syndicates” uncomfortable with the company’s “market dominance”.

The company also stated: “Considering, however, that Erisco Foods Limited has built a reputation as a credible organisation committed to due process and the good of humanity, we have decided to bring the said publication to the attention of relevant authorities.”

The food manufacturing company, therefore, vowed that it would take “all necessary actions against any malicious attack” on its reputation.

Our commitment to producing healthy tomato products, others

The company as well restated that “in light of the above, we wish to reiterate that Erisco Foods Limited is solely committed to the production of healthy tomato products, including other products that have the full regulatory stamp and approval of NAFDAC and Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

“While we recognise the rights of our consumers to make genuine observations about our products, we want to thank our esteemed customers for their continued patronage of Erisco Foods Limited.

“However, having built our reputation on healthy and quality products which have earned us both local and international awards, including the National Productivity Order of Merit Award, we will take all necessary actions against any malicious attack on our reputation.”

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