Business
Parents Slam Lawsuits Against P&G, Crest, Colgate for fluoride in kids’ toothpaste, mouth rinse
Last week, a study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics linked higher fluoride exposures in children to lower IQ scores.
Image credit: Shoprite.ng
(Reuters) – Procter & Gamble (PG.N), and Colgate-Palmolive (CL.N), are among the defendants in six new lawsuits targeting the sale of toothpaste and mouth rinse for young children because the products contain fluoride, which can be harmful if swallowed in large quantities.
Parents filed complaints on Monday in federal courts in Illinois and California over products such as Procter & Gamble’s Kid’s Crest toothpaste and several products sold under Colgate’s namesake, Tom’s of Maine and Hello brands.
Other challenged products include Perrigo’s (PRGO.N), Firefly anti-cavity rinse, and, Sanofi’s (SASY.PA) ACT Kids rinse.
The proposed class actions cite warnings from U.S. health regulators that fluoride-based toothpastes and rinses not be used by children under ages 2 and 6, respectively, and that the toothpastes be kept out of reach of children under age 6.
They also say the products are marketed as “candy-like” with bright colors, cartoon images and flavors such as Groovy Grape and Silly Strawberry.
The color of one Kid’s Crest product is shown changing to pink from blue as children brush. Fluoride helps prevent cavities when applied topically to the teeth, but when ingested can pose significant risks to and even kill young children, according to the lawsuits.
Procter & Gamble, Colgate, Perrigo and Sanofi did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The lawsuits seek restitution, compensatory damages and triple or punitive damages for violations of various consumer protection law.
These lawsuits are not about whether fluoride toothpaste should be available to those who want it,” Michael Connett, a partner at the law firm Siri & Glimstad representing the parents, said in an interview.
“They are about companies that mislead consumers into believing these products are harmless to young children.”
The relationship between fluoride and human health has long been debated.
Last week, a study, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics linked higher fluoride exposures in children to lower IQ scores.
In September, a San Francisco federal judge ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because of the possible link to lower IQ. Connett represented advocacy groups seeking additional regulation.
The Illinois cases are Gibson et al v. Perrigo Co, Gurrola et al v. Procter & Gamble Co, Harden et al v. Colgate-Palmolive Co, and Gurrola et al v. Chattem Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Nos. 25-00348, 25-00358, 25-00362 and 25-00366.
Business
WEF 2026: Shettima commissions first-ever Nigeria House in Davos
The Vice President noted that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise.
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday formally opened Nigeria House, the country’s first-ever sovereign pavilion at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Shettima said that nations do not prosper in isolation and stressed that Nigeria’s future growth depends on deliberate, structured engagement with the world.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, Nigeria stands at Davos with a sovereign pavilion of its own,” he said, adding that Nigeria House “reflects our intention, our seriousness, and above all our resolve to take a front-line seat in the discourse of the global economy, not as observers, but as participants with a clear sense of purpose.”
The Vice President noted that although Nigeria House was conceived as a whole-of-government platform, bringing together leadership across trade, investment, foreign affairs, energy, infrastructure, technology, climate and culture, its success would ultimately be driven by private enterprise.
Business
NTA didn’t introduce VAT on charges collected by banks — NRS
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to address and correct misleading narratives circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been newly introduced on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers.
Photo: NRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has clarified that the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA) did not introduce VAT on banking charges, nor did it impose any new tax obligation on customers in this regard.
In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the NRS chairman, Zacch Adedeji, the service said the claims are incorrect.
According to the NRS, VAT has always applied to banking services and was not introduced by the Nigeria Tax Act.
The statement reads:
“The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) wishes to address and correct misleading narratives circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Value Added Tax (VAT) has been newly introduced on banking services, fees, commissions, or electronic money transfers.
This claim is categorically incorrect.
“VAT has always applied to fees, commissions, and charges for services rendered by banks and other financial institutions under Nigeria’s long-established VAT regime.”
Business
LIRS gives employers Jan 31 deadline for filing 2025 tax returns
The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr Ayodele Subair, who gave the directive on Thursday, reminded employers that the obligation to file annual returns is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service(LIRS) fixed statutory deadline of January 31, 2026, for all employers of labour in the state to file their annual tax returns for the 2025 financial year.
The Executive Chairman of LIRS, Dr Ayodele Subair, who gave the directive on Thursday, reminded employers that the obligation to file annual returns is in line with the provisions of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025.
Subair explained that employers are required to file detailed returns on emoluments and compensation paid to their employees, as well as payments made to service providers, vendors, and consultants, and to ensure that all applicable taxes due for the 2025 year are fully remitted.
He emphasised that the filing of annual returns is a mandatory legal obligation and warned that failure to comply would attract statutory sanctions, including administrative penalties, as prescribed under the new tax law.
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