Business
Major chocolate recall upgraded to highest risk level
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3 weeks agoon
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Ekwutos Blog
The FDA has urgently upgraded the risk level of some of the products included in a chocolate recall – warning that the products could cause death.
Cal Yee Farm, a Suisun Valley, California-based candy company, urged customers across nine states to return some of their chocolate and yogurt covered snacks on December 12, 2024.
FDA inspectors discovered undeclared substances – including milk, wheat, sesame, soy and coloring agent Yellow 6 – in several Cal Yee Farm products.
The risk level of three of the recalled items has been bumped up to the highest classification, according to the New York Post.
In a January 22 update, the FDA said the company’s Dark Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Apricots and Dark Chocolate Walnuts have been given a Class 1 recall rating for containing undeclared milk.
A Class 1 recall is the most dire kind of food recall and is described as ‘a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death’ by the FDA.
Arizona, California, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia are the nine states included in the recall.
The food items were also sold online, so officials have warned that they may be available in other states.
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Cal Yee Farm, a Suisun Valley, California-based candy company, first called back some of their chocolate and yogurt covered snacks on December 12, 2024
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The FDA reported that the company’s Dark Chocolate Almonds, Dark Chocolate Apricots and Dark Chocolate Walnuts have been given a Class 1 recall rating for containing undeclared milk
The other recalled products are: Yogurt Coated Almonds, Dark Chocolate Raisins, Butter Toffee Almonds, Tropical Trail Mix, Mango with Chili, Cajun Sesame Hot Sticks, New Orleans Hot Mix, Butter Toffee Almonds and select Fruit Baskets.
The products were sold in either 8oz, 1lb, 2lb or 5lb sizes – a full list of products has been published by the FDA.
Items are packaged in clear plastic zipper pouches with bright yellow labels on the front.
In the alert, the FDA advised consumers to throw out the recalled products or return them to the seller for a full refund. No illnesses related to the warning have been reported.
Officials warned: ‘People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk, soy, wheat, sesame, Yellow 6 and almonds run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.’
Cal Yee Farm is a family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, according to the brand’s website.
‘Over the years, we have strived to provide the highest quality of dried fruits and nuts to all our customers in the U.S. and abroad. Our pledge is to provide the best customer service and fulfill all of our customers’ needs,’ Cal Yee Farm wrote.
On Wednesday, the company addressed the recall on the website, writing: ‘We did a voluntary recall on undeclared milk, soy, wheat, sesame, FD&C #6 and almonds in snack products, due to outdated labels which did not specify allergen statement.
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Cal Yee Farm is a family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, according to the brand’s website
‘Labels are now consistent with known allergens.’
An urgent recall for Lay’s potato chips has also been escalated to the highest level for containing undeclared milk.
The FDA revealed the affected products are bags of 13 oz Lay’s Classic Potato Chips distributed in Oregon and Washington.
Around 4.9 million American suffer from milk allergies and it is one of the most common food allergies in children.
Symptoms of milk allergy range from mild to severe and can include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems.
In severe cases, the condition can also cause anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening reaction that narrows the airways and can block breathing.
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Nigerian govt vows to harness N33tn revenue potential in livestock, boost GDP by 5%
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Published
1 day agoon
February 21, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Nigeria’s federal Ministry of Livestock Development said it has begun drastic reforms in the sector to harness its N33 trillion revenue potential.
The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, disclosed this on Friday at the commencement of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing.
The Minister stated that the ministry has put in place machinery to transform the country’s Livestock industry.
According to him, the ministry, through technologies, has initiated reforms to end cattle rustling and major insecurity challenges faced by herders.
He noted that the ministry commenced the process to revamp the ambulatories across the country.
Maiha emphasised that the Ministry is committed to diversifying Nigeria’s economy and increasing its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product to 10 percent from 5 percent by 2030.
“We are here to diversify the Nigerian economy, drive industrialisation, strengthen private sector participation, and secure Nigeria’s future on the global agricultural. market.
“We have laid the foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth. Our goal is to become a major contributor to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product from 5 percent to 10 percent by 2030,” he stated.
Recall that on July 9, 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated livestock development for the first time in Nigeria.
Thereafter, in October last year, Maiha was appointed to spearhead the ministry.
Business
Nigerian Govt slams Binance with fresh $81.5bn lawsuit
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Published
3 days agoon
February 20, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
The Federal Government has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to compel cryptocurrency platform, Binance, to pay N79.51 billion and N231 million, which is equivalent to $81.5 billion, as penalty for alleged economic losses caused by its operations in Nigeria.
The plaintiff, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, in a charge seen by DAILY POST on Wednesday, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1444/2024, is also seeking payment of $2.001 billion in income taxes for 2022 and 2023.
In the lawsuit, Binance and two of its executives, Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla, are accused of contravening Nigerian laws, including failing to register with the country’s tax agency, FIRS, for tax compliance and allegedly causing economic losses to the country during the review period.
Ekwutosblog reports this lawsuit makes it the third lawsuit currently before the trial court against Binance.
The FIRS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had charged the company with tax evasion, money laundering, and foreign exchange violations before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The monetary claims in the lawsuit include a 10 percent penalty for non-payment of taxes for 2022 and 2023, a 26.75 percent interest rate (the prevailing Central Bank of Nigeria lending rate) per annum from January 1, 2023, and January 1, 2024, respectively, among other penalties.
In the latest lawsuit, FIRS alleged that Binance concealed its business activities in Nigeria, despite having a significant economic presence in the country.
The Federal Government also accused Binance of breaching Nigeria’s Companies Income Tax Act, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act 2007, the CBN Regulatory Framework for Mobile Money Services, and the CIT Significant Economic Presence (SEP) Order.
The SEP Order, signed by former Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed and gazetted in May 2020, defines significant economic presence as foreign companies deriving at least N25 million annually from digital services in Nigeria.
An affidavit deposed to by Jimada Yusuf, a member of the Special Investigation Team from the Office of the National Security Adviser, revealed that Binance had been operating in Nigeria for over six years without registration.
Yusuf stated that during a 2024 meeting with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Binance executives (Anjarwalla and Gambaryan) admitted to having 386,256 active Nigerian users on its platform, with a trading volume of $21.6 billion and net revenue of $35.4 million for 2023.
Accordingly, the affidavit also accused Binance of operating without required licences and permits, non-compliance with the Money Laundering Act, offering unauthorised financial services, and providing currency speculation services.
The NSA said that Binance unlawfully listed and traded the Nigerian Naira on its platform, even after claiming it had delisted the currency following investigations.
The affidavit also alleges that Binance refused to provide detailed business records spanning six years, despite a Federal High Court order mandating disclosure to FIRS via the EFCC.
The FIRS, represented by lead counsel Kanu Agabi, SAN, was present in court on February 11, 2025, when the suit was called upon for a hearing before Justice Inyang Ekwo; however, Binance’s legal team was absent.
Agabi informed the court that attempts to serve Binance directly had been unsuccessful, and he had filed a motion for substituted service on them.
Justice Ekwo granted the motion and directed that substituted service be carried out within seven days. The case was adjourned to March 3, 2025.
FIRS is seeking the following reliefs in the suit: “A declaration that Binance is liable to pay annual corporate income tax for having a significant economic presence in Nigeria.
“A declaration that Binance and its executives must file income tax returns for 2022 and 2023. An order compelling Binance to pay $2.001 billion in taxes for 2022 and 2023.
“Penalties, including 10 percent annual interest and a 26.75 percent CBN lending rate, until the taxes are fully paid. Compensation of $79.51 billion and N231 million for economic losses.”
The fresh lawsuit came days after Gambaryan, in a statement through his X account, accused Nigerian NSA Nuhu Ribaduand lawmakers in the House of Representatives of bribery and corruption.
However, the Nigerian government described Gambaryan’s allegations as misinformation and defamatory.
Recall that in October 2024, the Nigerian government dropped money laundering charges filed against an executive of Binance Holdings Limited, Tigran Gambaryan.
Business
AEDC confirms darkness in parts of Abuja, gives reason
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Published
3 days agoon
February 19, 2025By
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Abuja Electricity Distribution Company has said the outage in parts of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, was due to the vandalization of conductors on the 132 Kilovolt Katampe-Central Area Transmission Station Lines 1 & 2.
AEDC disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday confirming the power outage in Abuja.
The Disco said areas affected by the power supply disruption were Wuye, Utako, Jabi District, Zones 1-7, Wuse, Areas 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8, Maitama, parts of the Central Business District (CBD), Durumi, and surrounding areas.
Although the company did not state the exact time electricity will be restored in the affected areas, it noted that the Transmission Company of Nigeria is working to ensure resolution.
“We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused by the ongoing power supply disruption affecting Wuye, Utako, Jabi District, Zones 1-7, Wuse, Area 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8, Maitama, parts of the Central Business District (CBD), Durumi, and surrounding areas.
“This is due to the vandalization of conductors on the 132KV Katampe-Central Area TS Lines 1 & 2. While efforts to restore normal operations are ongoing, load shedding will continue across the affected feeders to manage the available capacity from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
“Please be assured that we are actively engaging with TCN and relevant stakeholders to ensure swift resolution,” the statement reads.
Recall that darkness hit the presidential villa and 60 percent of the parts of Abuja after vandals stole a 132-kilovolt underground cable that transports bulk electricity to its 132kV Central Area Transmission Substation.
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