Amsterdam, NL

How Ireland’s ‘Mediocre’ Milk Powder Made it Big in West AfricaIn 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 […]DeSmogBrigitte Wear, Phoebe Cooke, Beloved John and Shauna Corr > Most people will never have heard of FFMP in Ireland, where it is sold only to businesses as an ingredient for other products, such as ice cream and baked goods. In fact, it cannot legally be described as “milk” in Europe because it does not exclusively contain milk. > > Instead, FFMP is produced in factories by spray-drying skimmed milk, a waste product from butter production, and is then supplemented with vegetable fats, such as palm or coconut oil. > > The vast majority is shipped outside Europe, with over half destined for West Africa. If an African business tried to do the same, there would be trade sanctions, and a public outcry. Not only are these European corporations harming the health of people in West Africa, but the manufacture is spewing pollutants around the factories in Ireland. And yet their business practices retain government support.

Amsterdam, NL

Amsterdam, NL