Natural markets are to blame, manufacturers say.

The Association of Milk Producers reports that 30% of dairy products in Ukraine are counterfeit. Both for the health and wallet of consumers, and for producers, and for the future of farming in general.

Due to the cheapness of fakes, manufacturers of high-quality milk made to standards lose customers. And the loss of the market leads to a decrease in the profitability of dairy products. This, in turn, negatively affects the entire dairy industry.

Since the beginning of the year, the conditional profitability index of milk production in Ukraine has decreased by 40%, according to the Association. The number of cattle over the past 5 years has decreased by 17.5%. The Association of Milk Producers says that most of the falsification is sold in natural markets. There, under the guise of real ones, surrogates of milk, cottage cheese, sour cream, butter are sold. Without labeling, it is often difficult for a buyer to distinguish a quality product from a fake, as a result, he is guided by a low price and buys a product that does not carry any nutritional value, moreover, it can be hazardous to health.