Thousands in Irish public money spent on pushing cheap substitute 'milk' in West Africa

Thousands in Irish public money spent on pushing cheap substitute 'milk' in West Africa

Products made from milk, with the natural fat removed and replaced with vegetable oil, were among those promoted in trade missions and campaigns.

How Ireland’s ‘Mediocre’ Milk Powder Made it Big in West Africa

In a packed function room in Lagos, Nigeria, the jaunty sounds of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Sir Duke’ start to play. Then, as a giant sparkler and confetti cannon erupt, a curtain slowly parts to reveal a spinning display stacked with green, white and gold milk powder sachets. “Ornua has brought Ireland’s unique taste to Nigeria,” explains the voiceover on Channels TV network, as it presents to its 20 million-strong audience a new product, fat-filled mil…

Backing substitute ‘milk’ exports in West Africa with public monies is fundamentally unethical

Exporting massive volumes of ‘milk’ powders to West Africa is harming economic and health outcomes in the region, as well as our own climate and sustainability goals, according to Social Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Patricia Stephenson. Senator Stephenson said: “It’s not appropriate for over a quarter of a million euro of taxpayer funds to be spent on pushing fat-filled milk powder (FFMP) in West Africa in a manner which misleads its c…