Mexican Dairy Farmers Warn of Unfair Competition from Milk Substitutes

Dairy farmers in the Ahome region of Sinaloa have raised alarms over the increasing unfair competition in the Mexican dairy market. They report that products marketed as milk are, in fact, derivatives or powdered formulas, impacting primary producers and misleading consumers.

Tirso Robles Camargo, president of the Local Livestock Association of Ahome, highlighted that this issue is not confined to their region but has become a national concern. These substitutes are being introduced in significant quantities, pressuring prices downwards and threatening the sustainability of genuine cow milk production.

One of the critical issues identified is the significant price gap across the supply chain. While consumers pay over 30 pesos per liter in stores, producers earn only around eight pesos, illustrating market distortion and unequal competition. Farmers also question the quality and labeling of these products, noting that many do not require refrigeration, indicating they are not fresh cow milk.

To address this, farmers in Ahome are calling on the federal government for intervention, including support for herd repopulation and livestock promotion policies. They argue that strengthening national production is essential to reduce dependency on imported derivatives and restore the value of authentic milk in the Mexican market.