Photo File: Counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet milk reported by NAFDAC

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet in the country.

In a statement released on Friday, the agency said Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer of Cowbell “Our Milk”, had alerted it to the presence of fake products bearing close resemblance to the genuine brand. According to NAFDAC, the counterfeiters have illegally used the brand name, packaging design, NAFDAC registration number, and trademark. Promasidor confirmed that the fake packaging design was last used in September 2023, making the current ones in circulation unauthorised.

Photo File: Genuine Cowbell 12g sachet milk.

The agency explained that the original Cowbell milk is creamy and produced with the revised PNG artwork branded “Our Creamy Goodness”, while the counterfeit version appears different in content, uses the old PNG artwork labelled “Our Milk”, and shows clear evidence of poor production methods such as ink printing and manual sealing.

Photo File: Counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet milk reported by NAFDAC

NAFDAC warned that consuming the counterfeit Cowbell product poses serious health and safety risks, as it may contain toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or diluted ingredients. The agency stressed that such products could lead to foodborne illnesses, allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death in severe cases, with infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly being particularly vulnerable.

The agency directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and mop up the counterfeit milk from circulation. It also urged distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise vigilance by buying only from authorised suppliers and carefully checking the authenticity of products.

Healthcare professionals and members of the public were further encouraged to report suspected cases of counterfeit products to the nearest NAFDAC office, via its toll-free number 0800-162-3322, or through dedicated email addresses provided on its official website.