Danger! Stop Consuming Japata Bitters, NAFDAC Warn Nigerians

 Omon Okhuevbie

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians to stop drinking the popular alcoholic drink called Japata Bitters, as it caused the death of mice within five minutes when tested in the laboratory.

NAFDAC disclosed this in a statement on Friday, expressing that the alcoholic drink produced by Chigodson International Company Ltd was shut down by NAFDAC and the owner of the company is currently on the run as the matter has been shared with NDLEA.

The statement partly reads, “An alcoholic bitters product that is of grave concern is Japata Alcoholic bitters which was duly registered by NAFDAC but laced with marijuana or cannabis compared to the registered product that had only ethanol. Through intelligence, NAFDAC was able to shut down the company. 

“This product when tested in the laboratory, caused the death of the mice within five minutes. The alcoholic content was doubled compared with the registered product.  The retained samples, kept at the point of registration, did not cause any injury to the animals.

”The product laced with cannabis was said to cause altered state of mind and psychological problems to the user.  The owner of the company is on the run and the matter has been shared with NDLEA.

“We shall continue with the raid on other illegal production outlet and the perpetrators will be dealt with in line with the extant laws and regulations.”

The agency also listed other herbal alcoholic drinks (‘Kurkura’ herbal preparation) which are laced with high concentrations of tobacco and sometimes cannabis, such as;

1. Haonu Laha Herbal Mixture
2. Gamzaki Tradomedical Herbal Ventures
3. Barakallahu Multipurpose Herbal Mixture
4. Sabon Karfi Herbal Mixture
5. Five Minutes Power Herbs Medicine.

“Kurkura is an illicit product illegally consumed for the sole aim of getting intoxicated. The substance when abused can be harmful to the body organs such as the brain, kidney and liver. The damage to the Kidney and Liver cannot be overemphasized. 

This substance can cause irrational thinking, altered state of mind, which if taken by a driver can lead to Road Traffic Accident with the attendant fatality consequences, or can lead to criminal behaviours such as rape, kidnapping and murder,” the agency wrote.

 

Independence newspapers