Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) Consumers of Sprite and Fanta have more to worry about than rotting teeth according to a Lagos High Court judge, who ruled that the Coca-Cola products could be "poisonous."

The court held that high levels of benzoic acid and sunset additives in the popular soft drinks could pose a health risk to consumers when mixed with ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, according to local media

Justice Adedayo Oyebanji ordered the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) to place written warnings on Fanta and Sprite bottles against drinking them with vitamin C, and awarded costs of two million naira ($6,350) against the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for failing to ensure health standards.

"It is manifest that NAFDAC has been grossly irresponsible in its regulatory duties to the consumers of Fanta and Sprite manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company," the judge said. "NAFDAC has failed the citizens of this great nation by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption products ... which become poisonous in the presence of ascorbic acid."

Incendiary judgement

The incendiary judgment followed a lawsuit brought against regulator NAFDAC and the NBC -- a member of Coca-Cola Hellenic group which bottles Coca-Cola products in Nigeria -- by Lagos businessman Dr. Emmanuel Fijabi Adebo.

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The claimant's company, Fijabi Adebo Holdings Limited, attempted to export Coca-Cola products to the United Kingdom for retail in February 2007.

But authorities in the UK seized and subsequently destroyed a shipment, Adebo claimed, because the products contained excessive levels of sunset yellow and benzoic acid. The latter substance can form the carcinogen benzene when combined with ascorbic acid, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Lawyers for the NBC argued that the products were not intended for export, but Justice Adedayo Oyebanji rejected this defense.

"Soft drinks manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of color or creed," the judge said.

Mr Adebo was pleased by the verdict but vowed to pursue further damages.

"I'm happy that I'm victorious and we've alerted Nigerians and the entire world to what is happening in Nigeria," the businessman told CNN. "What the court fined NAFDAC is not one tenth of the amount I've spent on litigation ... We should have been awarded at least the amount that we spent in purchasing that product and in exporting it to UK. We are entitled to special damages for what we have gone through."

Different standards

Both the NBC and NAFDAC are appealing against the ruling, arguing that the Coca-Cola products do not exceed benzoic acid limits for Nigeria or international limits set by Codex, the international food standards body administered by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

"The UK standards limit benzoic acid in soft drinks to a maximum of 150 mg/kg. Both Fanta and Sprite have benzoic levels of 200 mg/kg which is lower than the Nigerian regulatory limit of 250 mg/kg," wrote Sade Morgan, legal, public affairs and communications director of the NBC.

"The permissible ingredient levels set by countries for their food and beverage products are influenced by a number of factors such as climate, an example being the UK, a temperate region, requiring lower preservative levels unlike tropical countries."

Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads The soft drink Coca-Cola was first introduced on May 8, 1886. Here, a coupon offers a free glass of Coke in 1887. See how the company's advertisements have changed over the last 130 years. Hide Caption 1 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1890: One of Coca-Cola's earliest print ads included the slogan "refreshing and invigorating" as well as the original price for a glass: 5 cents. That price did not change until 1959, the company said. Hide Caption 2 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1900: Singer and actress Hilda Clark was the first celebrity to be featured in Coca-Cola advertising. Her likeness could be found on serving trays, signs, clocks, coupons and more. Hide Caption 3 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1925: Coca-Cola's first billboard, "Ritz Boy," promotes how popular the drink had become. Hide Caption 4 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1931: Coca-Cola puts an image of Santa Claus on an ad that debuted in the Saturday Evening Post and appeared regularly in magazines. It was painted by Haddon Sundblom, who continued to paint a new Santa for Coke every year until 1964. Hide Caption 5 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1932: At the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, spectators received these "Olympic record keepers" to keep track of world records in various sports. Hide Caption 6 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1935: Between 1928 and 1935, artist Norman Rockwell painted six different illustrations that were used in Coca-Cola ads. The 1935 calendar featured "Out Fishin," which depicted a young boy fishing on a tree stump. Hide Caption 7 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1944: A soldier is seen on this World War II-era ad. Hide Caption 8 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1946: The Coca-Cola billboard "Yes Girl" makes its debut. It was painted by Haddon Sundblom, who also created the iconic Coca-Cola Santa Claus. Hide Caption 9 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1951: This ad was released in celebration of Coca-Cola's 65th anniversary. Hide Caption 10 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1957: Mary Alexander was the first African-American woman to appear in Coca-Cola advertising. She appeared in about 15 Coca-Cola print ads throughout the 1950s. Hide Caption 11 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1971: Perhaps the most famous Coca-Cola ad of all time, "Hilltop," debuted in 1971. The Perhaps the most famous Coca-Cola ad of all time, "Hilltop," debuted in 1971. The television commercial features an international group of people singing "I'd Like to Buy the World a Coke." Hide Caption 12 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1979: A commercial featuring football player "Mean" Joe Greene becomes one of the most memorable Super Bowl ads of all time. A boy A commercial featuring football player "Mean" Joe Greene becomes one of the most memorable Super Bowl ads of all time. A boy shares a Coke with Greene; he gives the boy his jersey. Hide Caption 13 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1982: Diet Coke was the first extension of the Coca-Cola brand name beyond the original drink. It hit U.S. markets in 1982 as a way to attract consumers who wanted a lower-calorie option. Hide Caption 14 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1985: Cherry Coke puts a contemporary spin on a homespun beverage many Americans enjoyed as a kid, when "soda jerks" at the local drugstore would add a splash of cherry syrup to fountain Coca-Cola. Hide Caption 15 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1985: Coca-Cola announces the introduction of "New Coke" -- a reformulation designed to re-energize sales in the United States. Consumers quickly voiced their distaste, and the company brought back original Coca-Cola just 79 days later. Hide Caption 16 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1991: One of the most famous Coca-Cola advertising slogans, "Can't Beat the Real Thing," ran in various ads until 1993. Hide Caption 17 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 1993: Coca-Cola's animated polar bears debuted in 1993 as part of the company's "Always" campaign. They are often used in holiday ads. Hide Caption 18 of 19 Photos: 130 years of Coca-Cola ads 2011: The "Share a Coke" campaign, originally launched in Australia, has been one of Coca-Cola's most successful marketing campaigns to date. Responding to consumers' desire for personalization, the company added common names to Coca-Cola packaging. The campaign launched in the United States in 2014. Hide Caption 19 of 19

Codex recently reduced its international limit for benzoic acid volume from 600 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg, and is considering a further reduction in the coming years.

"The previous levels are still considered as safe -- they are just not necessary," says Tom Heilandt, secretary of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, explaining the change. "More work will be done over the next few years to see if the levels could be further adjusted."

The levels found in Nigeria Coca-Cola products should not pose health risks, according to Dr Markus Lipp, a senior food safety officer at the FAO.

"The current acceptable limit for benzoates by the Codex Alimentarius Commission is set to be 250mg/kg," he told CNN. "This maximum use limit has a temporary designation, but nevertheless is considered for now to be appropriately health protective."

"There simply does not seem to be health concern from our perspective," Lipp said of the Lagos case.

Nigeria's health ministry also released a statement claiming that the products are safe.

"NAFDAC and SON (Standards Organization of Nigeria) regularly monitor the manufacturing practices of food industries and conduct laboratory analysis to ascertain continuous compliance with required national standards," said the statement.

However, Health Minister Isaac Adewole insisted that the government is responding to public concerns, and has opened an investigation into the safety of Coca-Cola products made in Nigeria.

I have instructed NAFDAC to liaise with SON to address Nigerians immediately concerning the safety of Coca-cola products made in Nigeria /2 — Prof. Isaac Adewole (@IsaacFAdewole) March 16, 2017

Consumer backlash

Attempts to downplay the controversy are unlikely to succeed, at least in the short term, as alarm spreads among consumers.

Nigeria's Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has opened its own investigation

"(The council) is extremely concerned about the questions that have arisen from, and on account of this judgement," said Director General, Mrs Dupe Atoki. "Fanta, Sprite and Coca Cola have arguably and consistently been the most widely consumed beverages in Nigeria. The spectrum of consumption is also perhaps the widest, with consumption starting as early as age four and far into adult years."

On social media, citizens expressed dissatisfaction with the way NAFDAC is handling consumer safety in the country. Several citizens accused the agency of placing more priority on generating revenues than protecting citizens.

This Coca-Cola issue has shown us how negligent our regulator agencies are. The only job the know how to do is tax people. — Nubari Saatah (@Saatah) March 15, 2017

With more citizens worried about their health following the revelation, some drew connections between NAFDAC's displeasing performance and Nigeria's worsening health statistics.

Everyday we wonder why our life span is 48-45 NA THUNDER GO FIRE COCA-COLA AND THEIR BROTHERS SPRITE ETC. pic.twitter.com/WWd3Nte1jL — Baba Oni Gas (@manmustwack) March 15, 2017

Since the verdict was made public, some citizens are choosing to stop drinking Coca-Cola products, with others calling for a boycott.

No longer drinking Coca Cola products in Nigeria. Short story, they are not fit for consumption. — Onye Nkuzi (@cchukudebelu) March 15, 2017

@focusnigeria Nigerians shld boycott Coca-Cola products until foreign experts come to certify their products in Nigeria safe for consumption — Asede Henry (@HenryAsede) March 21, 2017

The NBC acknowledge they face an uphill struggle to contain the scandal and rebuild their reputation.

Coca-Cola hope that appeals against the ruling will be successful and rehabilitate the brands.

"The Ministry of Health communique could not be more clear that there is no issue with the safety of Fanta and Sprite," says Hamish Banks, Coca-Cola VP for Public Affairs and Communications, Eurasia and Africa. "The levels of all ingredients in these products, including benzoates and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), are well within the conservative guidelines of the Codex Alimentarius and the Nigeria Industrial Standards."

"While it is not appropriate to comment further on a pending case and while the court considers appeals by NBC and NAFDAC against the ruling, it is evident that there is no safety issue associated with these ingredients," he added.

For one of the world's most successful and global brands, the hope is that the backlash does not travel beyond Nigeria's borders.