The Consumer
Protection Council (CPC), Wednesday stormed the office of the popular Kripsy
Kreme Doughnuts confectionary in Victoria Island, Lagos and shut it down over
alleged unwholesome production.
The company
was accused of using expired doughnut mix and fillings used in producing
doughnuts, as well as surreptitious replacement of the expiry date of materials
by superimposing new expiry stickers on products in clear violation of the law.
Leading the
raid, CPC Director General, Babatunde Irukera said the shut down was after they
conducted a quality inspection on d products, facilities and operations of the
doughnut shop and discovered the raw materials used by the confectionery
company were past their expiry dates.
Afterwards,
Irukera went on Twitter to engage Nigerians who had questions about the raid
and subsequent shut down.
He said,
“Even if the products will pass a test, is it ok for the company to conceal the
real expiry date, and attempt to convey the products as within inventory
control expiration time?
“Isn’t it
enough that Krispy Kreme tampered with the information providing expiry date?
The legitimate date is the ‘use by: 03/07/2018. Its on the bag from the
manufacturer.
“The white
sticker which says Best before: 30/09/2018 wad printed by Krispy Kreme and
imposed on the original date to conceal it, and portray the white sticker as
the manufacturer’s suggested date.
“Take a good
look, the bag has expiry date- July 2018. The sticker was superimposed on the
date on the bag. We put them side by side so you can see what Krispy Kreme did.
And there’s a whole container load of that that’s been impounded by NAFDAC
now.”
In response
to allegations that they were biased because the company is a foreign one
Irukera said, ” We don’t consider nationality. But if we protect and people are
still improvished, could it mean we need to do more? You’re arguing that we
should desist so that in addition to poverty, people can die or be sick?”
“I consider
Krispy Kreme a credible brand, but something went wrong here, and there must be
consequences especially with food.
“I don’t
know if it’s the franchisor itself, or their local franchisee, but someone did
wrong and they of all should know better and do better.
“We spent
over an hour engaging them. We called NAFDAC to verify their claims and
realised they were less than forthright and concealed exhibits.
“NAFDAC and
CPC returned for fuller regulatory intervention. We are not clowns, we know our
work. They know it too.
“They broke
the law. They make food. Their safe bet should not make people unsafe. If their
bet was to use expired raw materials or revalidate without regulatory process,
then they are predators and they bet against us. They should lose the bet but I
hope this is not them.”
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