Ime Akpan
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has sounded the alarm about the arrival of six containers of ‘poisonous’ Iranian tomato paste.
The service said the product branded ‘Shirin Asal my tomato paste’ arrived at Nigerian seaports for onward clearance for sale in the markets.
In a memo ‘Re: Importation of expired Iranian tomato paste’ with reference NCS/T&T/I&E/021/S.112/Vol.71, NCS said: “It has been reported that six containers of expired and low quality Iranian tomato paste, Shirin Asal my tomato with brix 20-22 instead of the recommended brix 27-29 have been imported into the country by M.T.V Investment Limited.
“Consumption of the paste is said to be harmful to human health.
“Consequently, all Customs Area Controller (CAC) are directed to put appropriate mechanism in place to debar entry of the said paste and liaise with relevant agencies to forestall distribution and consumption.”
The service urged the other government agencies to work with the service in order to ensure it does not get into the Nigerian markets.
It was gathered that the six containers arrived at the nation’s seaports via a ship named Investment Limited awaiting clearance by concerned government agencies.
