By Chioma Obinna

National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, yesterday, shut down Carco Foods Nigeria Limited for alleged importation of expired milk valued at N20 million.

The consignment of seven 40-feet containers had already been re-labelled for distribution. The goods were said to have been manufactured in New Zealand and Holland but shipped from Shanghai in China.

It arrived the country through  the Tincan Island Ports sometime last month.

Tampering with expiring dates

Briefing journalists in Lagos, Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii, explained that upon  physical examination, the labels on the bags were found to be superimposed on the actual expiry date which was 14 February 2010.

According to Orhii, the actual expiry date was  covered with a label to read that the product was  supposed to expire two years from date of  manufacture which was 14 February 2009.

Orhii told journalists that already the agency had opened investigations into the discovery and that arrangements had  been concluded to charge the company and her officials to court as soon as investigations were concluded.