Draft:Erisco Foods Nagiko Tomato Paste 2023 Controversy

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= Erisco Foods Controversy = The Erisco Foods controversy involves the arrest of a Nigerian customer, Chioma Egodi, by Erisco Foods Limited after she posted a negative product review on social media for their Nagiko Tomato Paste product. The controversy emerged in September 2023 and has drawn attention due to allegations of product quality, social media posts, and subsequent legal actions.

Background
Erisco Foods Limited, a major indigenous manufacturer of tomato pastes, produces the Nagiko Tomato Paste brand. They are one of the largest producers of tomato paste in Nigeria.

On September 17, 2023, Chioma Egodi posted a review on her Facebook page of Erisco's Nagiko Tomato Paste product. In the post, she stated that the tomato paste contained too much sugar and asked others if they had used the product. Her post received over 3,900 comments.

Chioma Egodi’s Review
On September 17, 2023, Chioma Egodi shared her experience with Nagiko Tomato Paste on Facebook. Her post read:"“I went to buy tin tomatoes yesterday that I will use to make stew. I didn’t see Gino and Sonia. So, I decided to buy this one. When I opened it, I decided to taste it. Omo! Sugar was just too much. Ha, biko, let me know if you have used this tin tomato before because this is an Ike gwuru situation.”"The post garnered significant attention, accumulating over 3,900 comments. Egodi’s critique centered on the perceived excessive sweetness of the product. However, shortly after news of Chioma Okoli’s arrest surfaced on social media, netizens rallied against Erisco Foods, urging a boycott of the company.

Erisco Food’s Response
In the wake of Egodi’s post, Erisco Foods Limited issued a statement addressing the claims. The company labeled the allegations as “untrue” and accused Egodi of attempting to mislead customers and tarnish the company’s image. Erisco Foods claimed its commitment to producing tomato products that prioritize health and quality, including Nagiko Tomato Paste, allegedly meeting regulatory standards set by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

Legal Actions and Arrest
Erisco Foods escalated the matter by filing a petition with the police, alleging a criminal conspiracy, marketing, and blackmail of their product by an organized syndicate. The petition, dated September 19, 2023, titled “Complaint of criminal conspiracy, marketing, and blackmail of killing people with our product against an organized syndicate faking our products after failing to extort money from us and cyberbullying,” sought an investigation into the claims made by Chioma Egodi, whom they accused of criminal defamation. A few days after Egodi's Facebook post, she was arrested by police in Abuja. Erisco Foods confirmed that they petitioned the police to investigate Egodi's claims, considering them to be a "criminal conspiracy, demarketing, and blackmailing" of their product. Nnamdi Nwokolo, the spokesperson for Erisco Foods, stated in an interview that they believed Egodi's review was dishonest and aimed to tarnish their product and company's reputation. They asserted that Egodi declined to provide details to verify her claims when asked by others online, prompting them to petition the police for investigation.

Public Reaction
News of Egodi’s arrest spread across social media platforms, leading to public outcry. Nigerians expressed their opinions on the controversy, with some condemning Erisco Foods’ actions and calling for a boycott of the company. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) also summoned Erisco Foods Limited to address the alleged arrest of a dissatisfied consumer for posting a negative review.