Connect with us

Brands/Products

CPC to Investigate Safety of Blue Band ‘Spread for Bread’

Published

on

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The management of Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has announced opening an inquiry into the controversy surrounding safety of Blue Band ‘Spread for Bread’ produced by Unilever Nigeria Plc.

There have been reactions to a video posted on social media showing how the Blue Band ‘Spread for Bread’ reacts under certain heat conditions.

The video gave the impression that the product was unsafe for human consumption because the butter seems not to melt under heat as it should do.

Reacting to this, the CPC, in a statement issued on Sunday, April 1, 2018 by its Director General, Mr Babatunde lrukera, stated that it would look into the matter and give appropriate verdict on the issue.

Commenting on concerns raised about the product not melting or dissolving when subjected to high temperature in boiling water, the council said “available scientific information confirms that, though butter, margarine, and spread appear analogous, and share similar components, characteristics and uses, they are different products available to consumers.”

It admitted that “butter and margarine share a particular similar characteristic; low resistance to heat and as such, both are likely to melt when subjected to certain levels of heat.”

“Spreads however, have varying heat resistance, depending on intended use, and production process.

“As a result, it is not necessarily unsafe that a spread does not melt under similar heat conditions as butter, or margarine,” the council averred.

The CPC explained that, “Spreads are produced in part by adding emulsifiers which are additives used in stabilizing and binding processed foods.

“They are not inherently unsafe or uncommon.

“The specific emulsifying agent and amount used, largely depends on many factors including shelf life, storage, handling and climatic conditions in order to prevent microbial activity,” it explained further.

According to the DG of the council, “The manufacturer of this product has made a statement seeking to address public concern by differentiating its products and explaining the purposes of the two different products.”

He said, “Regardless, the council has opened an inquiry to determine product safety, and clarify some aspects of the manufacturer’s statements.”

Mr lrukera emphasised that, “The purpose of the inquiry is to ensure their products, differentiated or otherwise, are safe and subjected to proper processes, and ‘in- trade’ handling consistent with the different properties and characteristics of each product.”

He assured members of the public that the CPC will continue to collaborate with NAFDAC and SON regarding applicable safety standards.”

However, he advised that “consumption of butter, margarine or spreads generally are not unsafe.”

Modupe Gbadeyanka is a fast-rising journalist with Business Post Nigeria. Her passion for journalism is amazing. She is willing to learn more with a view to becoming one of the best pen-pushers in Nigeria. Her role models are the duo of CNN's Richard Quest and Christiane Amanpour.

Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Brands/Products

EvaluatePR to Explore ‘PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026’

Published

on

EVALUATE PR

P+ Measurement Services, Nigeria’s leading independent media intelligence and PR measurement agency, will host the 31st edition of its flagship thought-leadership platform, EvaluatePR, on Friday, March 27, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. (WAT).

Themed PR After the Algorithm: Trust, Truth & Intelligence in 2026, this virtual session will convene professionals across public relations, communications, and media measurement to explore how algorithms, artificial intelligence, and digital ecosystems are reshaping reputation management, media influence, and audience trust.

With the increasing role of automation in communications, the event will challenge professionals to rethink how credibility is built and sustained in a fast-evolving digital landscape, while emphasising the need for transparency, ethical measurement, and strategic intelligence.

The session will feature a distinguished lineup of speakers representing diverse expertise across global communications, media intelligence, and analytics: Felicia Nugroho – Director, Analytics & Insights, Maverick Indonesia / Chair, Asia Pacific & International Board Director, AMEC; Cyrille Djami – Founder & Publisher, CommsOfAfrica; Strategic Communications, Editorial and Influence Consultant; Amrita Sidhu – Managing Director, Medianet / Director & Board Representative, AsiaNet / Board Member, AMEC; and Satira Osemudiamen Oreweme – Principal Consultant, Satira Media & Public Relations Limited.

Together, they will lead insightful discussions on how communicators can navigate the intersection of technology and trust, maintain authenticity in automated environments, and leverage data-driven intelligence to deliver meaningful communication outcomes.

Participation in the session is free, with access available via the official registration link: https://bit.ly/4stWjUh

Continue Reading

Brands/Products

Indigo Wins Another SABRE Africa Award

Published

on

Integrated Indigo Limited SABRE Africa Award

Integrated Indigo Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service marketing communications consultancy firms, has once again proved its mettle as an agency to reckon with, not only in Nigeria but also across the continent, by winning another award at the 2026 Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation & Engagement (SABRE) Awards recently held in South Africa.

Indigo won in the Industrial/Manufacturing category for its impactful ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign executed for Lafarge Africa Plc. The award-winning ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign was designed to challenge gender stereotypes and promote inclusivity within the industrial and manufacturing sector, while amplifying Lafarge Africa’s commitment to empowering women through innovative and purpose-driven initiatives.

Last year, the agency emerged as the winner for its effective communication strategy and execution on the Nigerian Breweries Plc Rights Issue.

Commenting on the win, the Managing Director/CEO, Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola, explained that the success of the campaign was driven by a shared vision between the agency and Lafarge Africa Plc, noting that the win reflects the agency’s long-standing commitment to delivering impactful and purpose-driven campaigns that go beyond traditional communications.

Abimbola added that such recognitions serve as both validation and motivation for the agency to continue pushing boundaries, challenging norms, and delivering innovative solutions that create real value for clients and society at large.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition for our ‘Women on Wheels’ campaign. This win is a testament to our consistency and dedication to breaking new ground by relentlessly pushing bold ideas, building impactful collaborations, and fostering strong partnerships. We are proud of the impact this campaign has created and grateful to our clients for trusting us to bring this vision to life,” he said.

Abimbola also commended the Integrated Indigo team for their creativity, passion, and resilience, noting that the award reflects the collective effort of a team committed to excellence and innovation.

“I would like to celebrate our incredible team for their commitment and drive. This achievement belongs to every individual who contributed to making this campaign a success. We remain focused on pushing boundaries, delivering value, and continuing to create meaningful impact for our clients and the communities we serve,” he added.

As it celebrates this milestone, Integrated Indigo reaffirms its commitment to delivering innovative communication solutions, pushing boundaries, and creating campaigns that generate lasting impact.

The 2026 Africa SABRE Awards shortlist includes more than 120 campaigns, selected from over 500 entries in this year’s competition, which recognises Superior Achievement in Branding, Reputation and Engagement. The campaigns were evaluated by a jury of industry leaders. The 2026 Africa SABRE Awards took place on March 17 in South Africa.

Continue Reading

Brands/Products

Moniepoint Acquires Orda to Explore Africa’s $50bn Restaurant Economy

Published

on

Moniepoint DreamDevs Initiative

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A leading cloud-based restaurant management platform operating in Nigeria, Orda Africa, has been acquired by the continent\s all-in-one financial ecosystem platform, Moniepoint Incorporated.

The acquisition of Orda comes as Africa’s food service industry experiences unprecedented growth, with the sector valued at $50 billion and Nigeria’s market alone projected to reach $19.31 billion by 2030, growing at 11.73 per cent annually.

With Orda’s restaurant-focused capabilities now part of the Moniepoint ecosystem, the platform is well-positioned to capture this opportunity.

Business Post gathered that Orda will now become part of the Moniebook platform, the all-in-one Point-of-Sale (POS) and business management platform of Moniepoint.

Since launching its business management tools product in 2025, Moniebook has rapidly become the go-to platform for thousands of African businesses seeking integrated financial and operational tools, seamlessly unifying payments and bookkeeping in one platform.

With Orda, restaurant owners can now gain access to this proven ecosystem that creates unprecedented opportunities to scale operations, optimise performance, and access credit, as well as the extensive reach of Moniepoint, which has powered growth for millions of African businesses.

“The food industry isn’t just about feeding people; it’s a major source of jobs and daily survival for many Africans. It highlights how vital the informal sector is, not just for the economy, but for everyday life across the continent,” the chief executive of Moniepoint, Mr Tosin Eniolorunda, said.

Data has shown us that Africa’s restaurant sector is one of the continent’s most dynamic economic engines, yet the majority of food businesses still operate with manual processes and fragmented tools.

“By bringing Orda into Moniepoint, we are giving restaurant owners what they deserve: one simple platform that handles everything from managing their kitchen to growing their business.

“Our goal remains to create financial happiness for Africans, giving them the tools to reach their full potential, and that’s exactly what we’ve built here,” he added.

Also commenting, the chief executive of Orda, Mr Guy Futi, said, “Orda has found the perfect home in Moniepoint. We have spent years building deep expertise in restaurant operations, but we have always known that to truly transform the industry, we needed to connect that expertise with comprehensive financial infrastructure.

“That’s exactly what this integration delivers. For our customers, we are assuring a smooth transition with no disruption to the platform and retained access to the support you are used to. What changes is your access to opportunities. Over the coming weeks, being part of Moniepoint means you’ll have more tools, more reach, and more ways to grow your business than ever before.”

Moniepoint was established in 2015 by Mr Eniolorunda and Mr Felix Ike. The firm has considerably expanded its offerings to include digital payments, business and personal banking, credit, cross-border payments, and business management tools, with a customer base exceeding 20 million active businesses and personal banking customers and processes over $250 billion in digital payment transaction value annually.

On its part, Orda was formed in 2020 to give Africa’s small and independent restaurants the tools they need to run more efficiently, providing a purpose-built software to businesses that had long operated without it.

Combining their respective strengths, Moniepoint and Orda are expected to deliver a purpose-built solution that empowers food businesses at every scale to manage orders, track inventory, pay suppliers, and access working capital, all in one seamless experience.

Continue Reading

Trending