By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has impounded 400 bottles of fake, substandard and injurious mayonnaise cream within shops in Abakpa-Nike Community Market in Enugu metropolis.

The 400 bottles of fake mayonnaise cream have a market retail value of N200,000 (N500 per 236 mililitre bottle). Mayonnaise cream is usually used in preparing vegetable salad and eating bread among others.

The Public Relations Officer of SON in Enugu, Mr Paul Iorkyaa, said in a statement on Saturday that the raid on the market was carried out by SON officials on July 23.

Iorkyaa said that the raid was carried out after a complaint of fake and injurious BAMA mayonnaise by a public spirited individual to SON Markets Desk Office in Enugu.

“In the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) efforts to promote consumer confidence and satisfaction through its quality assurance of product and services, the organisation’s Enugu State office reacted to consumer complaint received from a consumer on July 13.

“A public spirited individual on July 13 in the organisation’s Ogbete Main Market Desk Office complaint of fake, substandard and injurious BAMA mayonnaise purchased from Abakpa-Nike Community Market.

“After due market surveillance by the market desk officers, a market raid led by the Head of Department SON Enugu Market Desk Office, Mrs Maryrose Ugwueche, was successfully carried out.

“The successful raid was carried out alongside the security services of Abakpa-Nike Market Association in collaboration with the market chairperson.

“During the raid, it was discovered that different brands of foreign Mayonnaise with no certification mark, traceability and some of which has expired were relabeled with fake label of BAMA Mayonnaise.

“These fake, substandard and injurious mayonnaise cream bottles were evacuated from the market,” he said.

Iorkyaa said that the raid attracted great number of consumers who were grateful to SON for the good work of evacuating the unwholesome products.

“The raid gave room for a brief sensitization on the need to patronize only products certified by SON under its MANCAP and SONCAP Scheme with display of MANCAP Logo of some certified products around,” he said.

The SON spokesman said that further investigation was still on over the matter.

“The organization is digging deep down to ascertain the manufacturer and supply chain of the substandard mayonnaise cream within the market and other markets in the state,” he said.

He said that the Coordinator Enugu/Ebonyi States of SON, Engr. Francis Onyeji, reiterated the resolve of the Director General/Chief Executive of SON, Mallam Farouk Salim, to rid all Nigerian markets of fake and substandard products.

“SON will not relent until Nigeria markets are rid off of substandard products and all offenders will be punished according to the law.”

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