National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians regarding the circulation of counterfeit Cowbell “our milk” 12g sachets circulating across the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that on Friday, NAFDAC disclosed that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the authorised marketing holder and manufacturer of Cowbell “our milk,” alerted the agency about the counterfeit products, which closely mimic the original brand.
The warning, shared on NAFDAC’s official website, highlighted that the counterfeit items unlawfully utilize the brand name, packaging design, NAFDAC registration number, and trademark. Consumers are urged to be vigilant and ensure they are purchasing genuine products.
According to the agency, Promasidor confirmed that the counterfeit packaging design was last used for production in September 2023 and that the fake product was neither manufactured nor distributed by the company.
Differentiating the products, NAFDAC explained that the genuine Cowbell milk was creamy and packaged with the revised PNG artwork “Our Creamy Goodness.”
“The printing of the batch details was done with laser printing, the coding is done on the coding area on the sachet, and the sealing and cutting on the vertical sides are automated,” it said.
On the other hand, the counterfeit sachet was described as not resembling milk. The agency said the packaging material used the old PNG artwork “Our Milk,” while batch details were printed with ink instead of laser printing. It added that the coding appeared in the wrong area of the sachet, and sealing and cutting on the vertical sides were manually done.
NAFDAC warned that the use or consumption of counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” posed serious health and safety risks.
“Such products may contain harmful substances, including toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients that do not meet food safety standards. Consumption of counterfeit milk can result in foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death in severe cases. Infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable,” it said.
The agency directed all its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeit products in their areas.
It also advised distributors, retailers and consumers to be cautious within the supply chain to prevent the distribution and sale of the fake product, stressing that all food items should only be obtained from authorised suppliers.
“Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of sale of substandard and counterfeit food products to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322, or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of counterfeited food products through the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via email: pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng,” the alert added.
