Health Alert in Colombia as Fake Milk Powder Ordered Off Shelves

The Colombian health authority, Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima), has issued an urgent directive to remove counterfeit powdered milk from supermarket shelves across the country. This action comes in response to identified health risks associated with the consumption of the falsified product.

On January 22, 2026, Invima announced this measure following the detection of unauthorized and potentially hazardous substances in the counterfeit milk. The agency emphasized the importance of this recall to protect public health and urged consumers to refrain from using the affected products.

Invima's alert highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring food safety within Colombia's dairy sector. The agency continues to monitor the situation closely and is working with local authorities to prevent further distribution of the counterfeit product.

The Colombian public is advised to verify the authenticity of dairy products before purchase. Invima has provided guidelines on how to identify genuine products and encouraged reporting any suspicious items to the authorities.

This incident underscores the critical role of regulatory agencies in safeguarding food quality and consumer health in the agro-industrial sector.