The Heineken bottle with Trophy label and Cork with unclear beer content circulating online has underscored the growing concern about fake products and the need for consumers to be more wary.
The beer has Heineken inscription on the bottle but covered with Trophy crown cork and Trophy label.
It is not clear whether this product was manipulated for social media engagement or a production mistake, however, it is a clear sign that consumers need to stay at alert when purchasing products for adulteration or product expiration.
As explained by a brewer, the production of beer in a different bottle in another beer factory may not be possible as the machine will reject the bottle.
The brewer said “this scenario is not possible as beer industries have different bottles. This cannot pass through production lines without the bottles being thrown out”. He described the act as simply mischievous.
In a dim environment, the product will pass for a genuine Trophy beer without the consumer identifying the adulteration.
Regulators and nutritionists have often warned on the dangers of compromised products whether expired or adulterated which could cause serious health risks when consumed.
Manufacturers in Nigeria have regularly expressed worry about the negative impact of adulteration of their product on their profits.
As an analyst said, the practice of faking products, driven by avarice and easy gains, undermines public trust and a risk to health.
With this understating, regulators such as NAFDAC and SON often monitor markets for counterfeiting with arrests made to curtail the incidence.
