*Oluyemi Oloyede, Managing Director/CEO of UAC Foods Limited, assures consumers of the food product that the company 鈥榳ill never compromise on quality or safety in our business operations. We will continue to protect our brand and our heritage鈥�

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

UAC Foods Limited, manufacturers of the popular Gala Sausage Rolls, has reacted to a recent viral rumour, claiming that the Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) company uses pork in Gala sausage roll, its flagship product instead of real beef in the food item.

绿帽献妻 learnt the allegation of using port instead of beef had spread rapidly across social media during the week in the form of a video.

The viral video specifically alleged that Gala contains pork, and this indictment was said to have misled Muslim consumers who make up a significant portion of the snack鈥檚 massive fans base.

Reacting to the allegation, Oluyemi Oloyede, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UAC Foods, in a statement issued via the company鈥檚 LinkedIn account, described the claim as 鈥渁bsolutely false鈥�, just as he attached the company鈥檚 NAFDAC certificate and 2021-2024 Halal certifications as proof of the company鈥檚 adherence to food quality and halal requirements in the industry.

Oloyede stated: 鈥淲e were alarmed by this video getting shared online about UAC Foods using pork in Gala, and would like to clearly state that this is FALSE.鈥�

鈥淲e use ONLY beef, real beef and TVP (texturised vegetable protein made from soybeans containing 52% protein).鈥�

The CEO of UAC Foods also said: 鈥淲e would like to assure the general public and our customers that they are in safe hands and we will never compromise on quality or safety in our business operations. We will continue to protect our brand and our heritage.鈥�

According to Oloyede, UAC Foods, which has been producing Gala for 62 years, undergoes annual National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) audits and four inspections per year by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)/MANCAP.

The company, he noted, is also fully compliant with regulations set by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

He further stated: 鈥淲e would like to assure the general public and our customers that they are in safe hands and we will never compromise on quality or safety in our business operations. 聽We will continue to protect our brand and our heritage.鈥�

Legal action against traducers

Meanwhile, UAC Foods has indicated its intent to press a legal charge against those responsible for creating and spreading the allegation of infraction to malign the company, which it deems a violation of its trademark rights.

鈥淭o the extent of the law, we will ensure that those spreading these rumours face the full extent of spreading mischief, misinformation and falsehood,鈥� stated Oloyede.

It is recalled that the company had been enmeshed in a numbers of similar allegations in the past years, including the 鈥榩oisonous鈥� gala sausage rolls rumour in October 2016.

The company at the time also refuted rumours making the rounds of existence of some poisonous Gala Sausage Rolls specie, which had resulted in deaths of over 200 Nigerian consumers.

A trending then trending on the social media had attributed some deaths in 16 states of the Federation, including those of Otukpo, Benue State and Laranto, Jos to the consumption of Gala, with the Federal Government being accused of complicity in the process.

The report had alleged: 鈥淥n Friday, 14th October, 2016, Gala Sausage Rolls killed about 26 students in a school at Otukpo, Benue State, that same day, 15 persons died at Laranto in Jos after taking Gala Sausage Roll. 205 persons have been reported dead in sixteen states and the Nigerian Government is covering up.

鈥淔or now, Gala Sausage Roll remains poisonous. No one should eat again. Please pass on to as many to save lives.鈥�

However, the company described the report as evil and ill-motivated, and the General Manager, Marketing, UAC Foods Limited, while touring the company鈥檚 factory, located in Lagos, also stated that there was no way such deaths could have escaped the prying eyes of the media in the West African country.

She stated that one of the responsibilities of the company was to ensure that its offerings were prepared under a very safe and hygienic conditions.

According to her, the decision to throw open its gates to the media was to allow the media to have firsthand experience on how the Sausage Rolls were prepared.

鈥淲e stand by what we do as a responsible corporate organisation, and that is why we see such report about Gala being poisonous, as very untrue and ill-conceived.

鈥淲e are unrelenting about giving our consumers value for their money. We will continue to innovate so as to give them a choice. That is why we are providing them with the mega size Gala, introduced few weeks ago,鈥� stated the General Manager, Marketing at UAC Foods.

UAC Foods is a subsidiary of UAC Nigeria Plc, operating in the packaged foods and beverages industry, with a diverse range of products namely, Gala Sausage Roll, Supreme Ice Cream, Swan Natural Spring Water and Funtime Chips.

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