The things these operators do.
Not that I like Milo,I find that lately the powder has gotten a tinge lighter while the price has skyrocketed.
Clever marketing ensured a firm foothold on Malaysian soil so much so that when we go to the mamak or kopitiam we order Milo instead of a cocoa drink and insist on Nescafe instead of any other instant coffee.
I do hope the people at Nestle sense the rustling on the ground and maintain their quality or else the same fate that has befallen Maggi might happen to Milo one day too.
In this latest expose' at least 5 operators were found to have substituted the powder in actual Milo tins with another cocoa powder which they obtained from one clandestine supplier.They did this to increase their profits by 30%.
Smart or stupid?Read on...
This article was taken from today's The Star
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In Hot Water Over Milo Scam
GEORGE TOWN: Several unscrupulous coffeeshop operators in Seberang Prai have been found using a type of cocoa powder to pass off as ‘Milo’ to unsuspecting consumers.
At least five operators were caught when the state Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry enforcement divi- sion carried out raids at their premises last week.
State director Mohd Salleh Maamor said initial investigations showed each operator could obtain an extra 30% profit by using the powder.
A 3.2kg pack of Milo is said to be priced at RM40.70 at retail outlets.
Mohd Salleh said the raids were carried out following public tip-off, adding that they had seized several Milo tins containing the powder from the five operators.
He said preliminary findings showed the powder was not the popular chocolate beverage.
“We will send the powder to the chemistry department for analysis before wrapping up our investigation.
“The case is being investigated under Trade Description Act 1972,” he said after conducting price checks at the Cold Storage supermarket in Island Plaza here yesterday.
The ministry’s enforcement division chief M. Guna Selan said investigation papers would be forwarded to the Deputy Public Prosecutors office once the chemist report confirmed that the powders were not that of Milo.
He believed the operators aged between 40 and 63 had received the powders from the same supplier.
“The operators told us the supplier would come to them once in a while. There were no official receipts over the purchase.
“We are now investigating their claims,” he said, adding that the operators were still operating as usual.
In an unrelated development, Mohd Salleh said the ministry had put 14 items under price control for five days effective Dec 23 in conjunction with Christmas.
