A Facebook post from January 22, 2023, claiming that consuming products from Mocaf Brewery causes blindness and impotence in men is false.
Posted by Dieudonné Mbandi in the “Coalition for the Refoundation of Central Africa” group, the post states: “Alert info! Consuming Castel products causes blindness and deprives men of their masculine power! Be cautious! Do not buy products that kill!” Beware of this completely false information, which aims to tarnish the image of Mocaf Brewery.
Verification:
To separate fact from fiction, our editorial team contacted the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, an ophthalmology specialist, the president of the Central African consumers’ association, and the Mocaf Brewery.
On February 5, 2023, Gasan-sele Gbadin, Director of Standardization and Quality at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, rejected this information, stating: “This is truly fabricated information. Before products are marketed, the Department of Standardization and Quality must verify these products. Claiming that Castel products cause blindness and deprive men of their masculine power is purely false.”
The Mocaf Brewery management, contacted by AFC, clarified that they had issued a statement on this matter and chose not to comment further on these disturbances.
Georges Yaya, head of the ophthalmology department, also refuted the claim: “I believe that people worldwide, including in Central Africa, consume beer regardless of its brand. However, no one becomes blind from it; this is simply a smear campaign.”
Marcel Mokoapi, president of the Central African consumers’ association, added: “This is a malicious speculation. Mocaf Brewery has been around since independence; I have never received a complaint from a consumer regarding this issue.”
This publication comes in the wake of the announcement of a new Russian beverage, “Africa Ti l’Or,” in Central Africa. Additionally, Central African authorities have condemned recent supportive demonstrations held in front of Mocaf Brewery. After verification by AFC, this information is false.
By Romaric Théophile GBOMANDJI / AFC
This article is part of the AFC-Internews partnership funded by USAID. However, the content does not reflect the partner’s responsibility.
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