World Milk Day: Dairy Group Raises Alarm Over Cheap Milk Substitutes

World Milk Day: Dairy Group Raises Alarm Over Cheap Milk Substitutes

Concerns over dairy consumption and product labeling took centre stage on World Milk Day as industry stakeholders warned that low-cost milk substitutes and creamers are increasingly being passed off to consumers as genuine milk products.

The warning was issued at the 2026 World Milk Day Conference in Abuja by the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), which urged Nigerians to be more cautious when selecting dairy products and to pay closer attention to product labels.

CODARAN National President, Muhammadu Damakka Abubakar, said while creamers and milk substitutes may serve certain culinary purposes, they do not offer the same nutritional value as fresh milk or dairy products derived directly from natural milk.

He advised consumers to prioritise genuine dairy products where possible in order to obtain the full health and nutritional benefits associated with real milk.

The conference also highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing dairy supply challenge, with the Minister of Livestock Development noting that demand continues to far exceed local production.

According to him, Nigeria requires about 1.7 million metric tonnes of milk annually, while domestic production remains between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tonnes, creating a wide supply gap that fuels significant import dependence.

He added that the country spends over $1.5 billion annually on dairy imports as a result of the shortfall.

The minister said stakeholders had previously met in Abuja to develop strategies aimed at boosting local milk production, improving processing capacity, strengthening cold-chain systems, expanding pasture development, and enhancing animal health services.

These efforts culminated in the validation of the National Dairy Policy Implementation Framework, which was formally presented at the World Milk Day Conference as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s dairy sector and reduce reliance on imports.

World Milk Day, observed annually on June 1, highlights the importance of milk and dairy production in nutrition, livelihoods, employment, and economic development.