12 companies selling milk in packets identical to Milk Vita’s: Govt

The government has found at least 12 companies selling milk in packets similar to those of Milk Vita, the main product of the country’s largest dairy producer Bangladesh Milk Producers’ Co-operative Union Limited (BMPCUL).

State Minister for Rural Development and Co-operatives Division Md Mashiur Rahman Ranga has said that legal action will be taken against these companies.

At a media conference on Sunday at the Secretariat, he presented the packets of milk manufactured by seven of those firms that looked nearly identical to the Milk Vita’s milk packets’ colour and size.

These companies - Aftab, Dairy Fresh, Dhaka Prime, Milk Fresh, Ultra Milk, Real Milk and Pura Milk – were making their packets look like Milk Vita’s in order to deceive customers and boost sales, Ranga said.

He said these firms were trying to confuse the consumers. “I have already spoken with the RAB director general about this. Milk of these companies will be sent to BSTI for testing.”

“We are trying to make sure that no one can make fake milk and sell them. We suspect that these companies are mixing vegetable fat or something else....”

Milk Vita’s milk has neither any preservative nor any chemicals in it, he said. “The technology Milk Vita and few other companies use to manufacture milk is unique.

“So, if anyone is selling milk in packets similar to Milk Vita’s they probably don’t have the technology to produce bacteria-free milk.”

The state minister also urged all to check for the Milk Vita logo before buying Milk Vita products.

Semi-government organisation BMPCUL’s Chairman Sheikh Nadir Hossain Lipu at the press briefing said they will first send legal notices to these companies that are copying the Milk Vita logo. “We’ll sue them later.”