By Dipo Olowookere
For few days now, there have been apprehensions among consumers Amstel Malta in Nigeria concerning a picture claiming there were counterfeits of the product in circulation.
The rumour has been making the rounds and has thrown some consumers of the malt drink into confusion.
In the picture being passed around on social media, it was observed that the NIS sign of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on two cans of the Amstel Malta were different.
Also, while there was ‘low sugar’ on one can drink analysed in the picture, the other had only ‘Malt Drink No Alcohol’ on it.
However, reacting to the issue, Amstel Malta, via its official Facebook page, noted that there is no fake Amstel Malta in circulation.
It said, “It’s the same Amstel Malta you love, same great taste and premium quality. #AllTheTasteWithLessSugar #WhyAddMore.
However, checks done by Business Post revealed that makers of the product, Nigerian Breweries (NB), only repackaged the Amstel Malta when it introduced its ‘Why Add More’ Amstel Malta drink few months ago.
Also, the difference in the NIS logo, Business Post learnt, is due to the fact that SON has changed its NIS logo, which NB made to reflect in the repackaged can drink.
Meanwhile, there are strong indications that the ‘fake Amstel Malta rumour’ may have been sparked by competing brands.
However, it is important to note that this is yet to be confirmed by Business Post.
According to what we heard, one of the competing brands capitalised on producers of Amstel Malta’s inability to notify its consumers of the changes in their repackaged malt drink.
Until now, not many were aware that SON had changed its NIS sign.
Modupe Gbadeyanka 
Aduragbemi Omiyale