Erisco Foods CEO Threatens N5 Billion Lawsuit Against Facebook User Over “Sugar Too Sweet” Tomato Mix

The CEO of Erisco Foods Limited, Mr Eric Umeofia, has vowed to sue a Facebook user, Mrs Chioma Egodi, for N5 billion over a negative review of one of the company’s products, Nagiko Tomato Mix.

Mrs Egodi had posted on Facebook on September 17, 2023, that she bought Nagiko Tomato Mix the previous day and found it too sweet. She said she wanted to buy her usual brands, Gino or Sonia, but they were out of stock, so she settled for Nagiko.

“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.”

Her post sparked reactions from other users and prompted the company to petition the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun, who ordered her arrest.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) intervened and demanded her release. Some Nigerians also expressed their outrage over the issue and called for a boycott of Nagiko Tomato Mix.

Mr Umeofia, in an interview on Arise TV’s Global Business Report on Thursday morning, said the company suspected that Mrs Egodi was paid by some competitors to tarnish the reputation of the brand. He said she was not a genuine customer and could not provide any evidence to support her claim.

He said Mrs Egodi had written an apology letter to the company but had failed to post it on her Facebook page as agreed. He said he would sue her for N5 billion if she did not comply with the company’s demand.

He also defended the quality of Nagiko Tomato Mix, saying it was the best in the market and approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). He said sugar was added to the product as a preservative and that it was a matter of preference.

He accused his competitors, especially importers of tomato paste, of being behind Mrs Egodi’s review. He noted that she was an “importer and exporter guru” and had attended a seminar on export promotion in Lagos. He urged people to check her comment section to see how she liked comments that criticized Erisco and insulted those who challenged her review.

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