In a recent response to an investigation by PREMIUM TIMES, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed that Fat-Filled Milk Powder (FFMP) is officially recognized and approved for consumption in Nigeria. However, the agency did not address concerns regarding the product being misleadingly sold and advertised to Nigerians as actual milk. This clarification came in light of an investigative report that highlighted the widespread presence of FFMP in the Nigerian dairy market and its misrepresentation as a true milk product.
The investigative report, titled “Milk or Mimic: Nigeria’s Dairy Market Flooded with Inferior Product,” revealed that FFMP, which is produced by blending skimmed milk powder with vegetable fat, is often marketed as milk. However, FFMP is technically a milk alternative or derivative product, not genuine milk. Despite this, NAFDAC’s response emphasized that FFMP is identified in the 2021 Milk and Dairy Product Regulations for Nigeria and classified alongside other types of milk, such as Whole Milk Powder and Skimmed Milk, without directly addressing the concerns of misrepresentation raised in the report.
The Codex Alimentarius Commission, an international body that sets food standards, also recognizes a blend of skimmed milk and vegetable fat in powdered form intended for consumption or further processing. NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to public safety, asserting that it would continue to perform its regulatory duties diligently and would not register products for use in Nigeria without proper scrutiny. However, the agency’s response focused on the product’s recognition in regulations, without tackling the critical issue of its misleading presentation as milk in the Nigerian market.
The investigation further revealed that FFMP is a lower-cost milk substitute that has been continuously exported to Nigeria and other West African countries, with Nigeria being a significant market. In Europe, FFMP is not manufactured, categorized, or sold as milk; instead, it is used in the production of other dairy products such as yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. The European Union Commission Press Officer for Agriculture, Thérèse Lerebours, clarified that in the EU, FFMP is referred to simply as “fat-filled powder,” omitting the ‘M’ for milk, as it lacks essential milk components.
This situation underscores the stark contrast between Nigerian and European food standards. In previous instances, NAFDAC’s standards have also diverged significantly from those of the EU, raising concerns about the quality of food products allowed into the Nigerian market. The investigation into the Nigerian dairy market has highlighted not only the prevalence of FFMP but also the widespread misinformation among traders and consumers, many of whom are unaware that the product they are consuming is not real milk.
