The country’s consumer ministry reportedly seized RM250,000 (US$67,350) worth of counterfeit Milo products last week. Other items seized included 1,000 empty boxes, 50,000 empty plastic packs, a printer, a weighing machine and a numbering printer.
Nestlé engages consumers on Facebook
Milo’s parent, Nestlé, released a post on Facebook to show consumers how to tell fake and real packaging apart.
“Dear fans, Nestlé Malaysia has been alerted that the authorities have found counterfeit versions of Milo packaging and Milo powder being produced in Negeri Sembilan,” it said.
“Please be assured that we are working very closely with the relevant authorities especially the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism to ultimately curb this matter as the safety and quality of our products is a non-negotiable priority of Nestlé.”
Alongside an image of two green plastic Milo packs, a message advised consumers: “The original Milo packaging is machine packed and cut. As such the edges on the top of the original pack will not have a perfect perforation.”
‘Unscrupulous illegal operators’
Nestlé had earlier reassured customers that it was “taking all necessary steps to protect the public from unscrupulous illegal operators who engage in manufacturing, distributing and/or selling counterfeit Nestlé products”.
The authorities have not yet revealed the formulation of the counterfeit Milo, neither is is known if the fake sachets were safe for consumption.
Six immigrant workers from Myanmar and Indonesia were arrested in the raid.
Nestlé also moved to assure Singaporean consumers that Milo sold in the country was packed on the island, and no counterfeit incidents had been reported.