The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has discovered more than 100 sacks of empty alcoholic beverage bottles at a residential building in Meiran, Lagos, raising concerns about their suspected use in counterfeit drink production.
The discovery was made at 322B Meiran Road, Agbado Oke-Odo, where empty bottles of assorted alcoholic beverages were reportedly stored. According to the agency’s announcement, the bottles were suspected to have been stockpiled for possible reuse in counterfeiting popular alcohol brands.
NAFDAC said the bottles were destroyed to prevent them from being reused in the production of counterfeit alcoholic drinks.
Why the discovery raises public health concerns
Counterfeit alcoholic beverages can expose consumers to serious health risks, particularly when their contents, ingredients or production conditions are unknown. Reusing branded bottles to package fake drinks can also make it difficult for consumers to distinguish genuine products from counterfeits.
However, the discovery of empty bottles does not by itself establish that counterfeit drinks were manufactured at the residential building. The agency’s announcement identified suspected counterfeiting as the reason for concern.
Consumers are advised to purchase alcoholic beverages from reputable outlets and check product labels, seals and packaging for signs of tampering. Suspicious products or activities should be reported to NAFDAC through its official reporting channels.
The discovery adds to concerns about the circulation of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and the need for continued enforcement to protect consumers.
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