That “Cowbell” Milk you are about to purchase might not be milk at all
NAFDAC warns Nigerians about counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” brand in circulation, and the risks are far weightier than you think.
If you grew up with the familiar blue-and-white sachet of Cowbell “Our Milk” tucked away in your kitchen cupboard, this might come as a shock: what you are drinking might not be milk at all.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” products currently making the rounds. These fakes look almost identical to the real thing, same brand name, same packaging design, even a NAFDAC registration number, and have been spotted in Nasarawa and Kano states. Experts warn that the risks are no small matter.
According to NAFDAC, these suspicious sachets are not produced by Promasidor Nigeria, the makers of Cowbell, and could contain toxic chemicals, unapproved additives, or watered-down ingredients that fail to meet food safety standards. The potential consequences? Anything from food poisoning and allergic reactions to organ damage, with infants, children, pregnant women, and the elderly at particular risk.
“The content in the sachet does not seem like milk, the agency said.
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Investigators discovered that the counterfeit versions use outdated packaging designs, are sealed by hand, and have their batch details printed in ink rather than the proper laser coding. The last genuine batch of Cowbell “Our Milk” rolled off the production line in September 2023, so if you spot a fresher date, treat it as a red flag.
NAFDAC has now instructed its officers nationwide to track down and remove the fakes from circulation.
In the meantime, it is urging importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to keep their guard up. Buy only from trusted suppliers, inspect the reforms packaging closely, and if something looks or tastes “off”, do not take any chances.
If you think you have purchased counterfeit milk, report it to the nearest NAFDAC office or call 0800-162-3322. You can also email emailsf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng or use the reporting form on the agency’s website.
