The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the circulation of counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet milk products in Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Friday, NAFDAC revealed that Promasidor Nigeria Ltd, the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) and manufacturer of Cowbell “Our Milk”, informed the agency about the existence of a product that closely resembles the genuine Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet Milk.
“This includes unauthorised use of the brand name, packaging design, NAFDAC registration number, and trademark. The MAH has confirmed that these products are neither manufactured or distributed by them as the counterfeit packaging design was last used for production by the company in September 2023,” the regulatory body stated.
The agency outlined key differences between the genuine and counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” 12g sachet milk as follows:
Genuine Cowbell 12g Sachet Milk
– Content in the sachet is creamy milk.
– The packaging material used is the revised PNG artwork “Our Creamy Goodness”.
– The printing of the batch details is done with laser printing.
– The coding is done on the coding area on the sachet.
– The sealing and cutting on the vertical sides are automated.
Counterfeit Cowbell 12g Sachet Milk
– Content in the sachet does not seem like milk.
– The packaging material used is the old PNG artwork “Our Milk”.
– The printing of the batch details was done with ink instead of laser printing.
– The coding was not done on the coding area but on a different part of the sachet.
– The sealing and cutting on the vertical sides are done manually.
NAFDAC warned that the use or consumption of the counterfeit Cowbell “Our Milk” poses significant health and safety risks, emphasising that 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 explained.
Details of the Counterfeit Product
Product Name: Cowbell Our Milk 12g
Purported Product Manufacturer: Promasidor Nigeria Ltd.
Production Date: 04/2025.
Expiry Date: 12/2028.
The regulatory body directed all its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and mop up the counterfeit Cowbell 12g sachet Milk products within their zones and states.
NAFDAC also advised distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and remain vigilant within the supply chain to prevent the distribution, sale, and use of the counterfeit milk product, stressing that all food products must be obtained from authorised/licensed manufacturers or suppliers.
“The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked,” it said and advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of sale of substandard and counterfeit food products to its nearest office on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
The agency further encouraged healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of counterfeited food products to its nearest office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on its website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.
