NIGERIA – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confirmed that Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) is officially recognized and approved for consumption in Nigeria.
However, the agency’s statement did not address concerns regarding the misleading sale and advertisement of FFMP as regular milk to Nigerian consumers.
This announcement follows an investigative report by PREMIUM TIMES, titled “Milk or Mimic: Nigeria’s Dairy Market Flooded with Inferior Product,” which uncovered the dominance of FFMP in Nigeria’s dairy market.
The report revealed that FFMP, a product made by blending skimmed milk powder with vegetable fat, is often presented as milk despite being only a milk alternative or derivative.
In response, NAFDAC issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that FFMP is indeed listed in the 2021 Milk and Dairy Product Regulations for Nigeria alongside various other milk types, including Whole Milk Powder and Skimmed Milk Powder.
The agency emphasized that the Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international food standards body, includes a standard for a blend of skimmed milk and vegetable fat in powdered form, which is intended for direct consumption or further processing.
NAFDAC also reassured the public that it remains committed to its mandate of safeguarding public health and would not approve any product without thorough regulatory diligence.
Despite this reassurance, the agency did not address the critical issue highlighted by the PREMIUM TIMES investigation: the misleading advertising and presentation of FFMP as regular milk.
While the agency acknowledged that FFMP is recognized under Nigerian regulations, it failed to provide clarity on why the product is sold and marketed as milk when it lacks the original milk fat, a key ingredient in genuine milk products.
The PREMIUM TIMES investigation highlighted that FFMP is a cost-effective milk substitute that has been continuously exported to Nigeria and other West African countries, with Nigeria being one of its largest markets.
In Europe, where much of the FFMP consumed in Nigeria is produced, the product is not categorized or sold as milk. Instead, it is typically used in the production of other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and ice cream.
Thérèse Lerebours, a spokesperson for the EU Commission Press Office for Agriculture, informed PREMIUM TIMES that FFMP is referred to as fat-filled powder in the European Union, excluding the term “milk” because it does not contain essential milk components and, therefore, cannot be described as milk.
This disparity in food standards between Nigeria and the European Union is not unprecedented. Earlier this year, another investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed that Nestlé, a multinational food and beverage company, had exported substandard infant food products to Nigeria.
Laboratory tests in Belgium showed that some Nestlé products sold in Nigeria contained sugar and honey, contrary to international guidelines.
NAFDAC defended the addition of glucose, syrup, or honey in cereal-based foods for infants, stating that Nigerian standards, guided by the Codex Alimentarius Commission and the Nigerian Industrial Standards, permit these ingredients.
Despite these standards, the issue remains that FFMP is not presented to Nigerian consumers as a milk alternative.
Many consumers are unaware of the differences between various types of milk powders, leading to widespread misinformation about FFMP, particularly among traders who mistakenly believe it is a healthier or child-specific product.
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