The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has shut down three milk production factories operating in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, citing alleged failure to comply with approved production standards.

The enforcement operation, carried out on Tuesday, saw FCCPC officials, supported by security operatives, raid the facilities. During the exercise, freshly produced milk stored in containers and products being transferred into cans were destroyed.

Speaking during the operation, the South-East Zonal Coordinator of the FCCPC, Ndidiamaka Obialor, alleged that dairy products manufactured at the affected factories posed significant health risks to consumers.

According to Obialor, a growing number of dairy products available in the market are adulterated and produced under unhygienic conditions.

She said the FCCPC, the agency charged with promoting fair business practices, enforcing competition laws and protecting consumer rights, would continue to take action against operators who violate established standards.

“We cannot fold our hands and continue to watch while these people produce poisonous drinks and sell to unsuspecting members of the public.

“Look at the environment where they are producing; it is dirty. They pick plastic bottles from the streets, rinse them with dirty water to bottle their soya milk.

“They produce in very unhygienic environment, they package them without any form of PPEs, they just handle with their bare hands. No treated water or any form of analysis on the finished products, they just package it and sell to unsuspecting consumers.

“They produce in very unhygienic environment, they package them without any form of PPEs, they just handle with their bare hands. No treated water or any form of analysis on the finished products, they just package it and sell to unsuspecting consumers,” she said.

Obialor also expressed concern over the increasing circulation of substandard products, warning that many of them pose serious dangers to public health.

She added that the commission would sustain its enforcement operations to ensure such products do not make their way into the hands of consumers.

As part of the enforcement exercise, FCCPC officials, accompanied by police operatives, arrested the owner of one of the factories. Equipment and other materials used in the production process were also confiscated and retained as exhibits for further investigation.

Source: Punch