The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce Yanqing Branch says that a batch of fake milk under the Mengniu brand has been found in some wholesale markets in Beijing.

Mengniu is a new official sponsor of the National Basketball Association and is the exclusive dairy supplier for the NBA in China.

Staff from Beijing Municipal Bureau of Industry and Commerce Yanqing Branch say that the fake milk products are basically a mixture of water and chemical substances like sodium cyclamate and their counterfeit packaging bears the Mengniu logo.

Sodium cyclamate, an artificial sweetening agent, is not allowed in food in places such as Singapore. Codex Alimentarius, the world body on food standards, has not recommended it for use in foods as yet, as there are still food safety considerations.

In a recent inspection, a dealer at a wholesale market in Beijing was identified to be selling this kind of fake Mengniu breakfast milk. 200 boxes of fake milk have been discovered and the case is now under further investigation. All similar boxes have been recalled and consumers are asked to report any similar incidents relating to finding other Mengniu-branded boxes because of the potential health risks.

Local media has carried a warning from the Department of Industry and Commerce that reminds consumers to pay more attention to the quality of the milk products and not be lured by low prices.