New Zealanders outraged as bizarre cow products sell for sky-high prices online
Kiwi shoppers are fuming after an Indian online marketplace started flogging strange items like cow urine, dung cakes, and baby powder made from cow dung – with eye-watering price tags of up to $253.
Cow Urine and Dung Powder Rip-Off Sparks Fury
- Cow urine sells for a staggering $253.18 (USD) per 2 litres. Marketed as a “powerful antibiotic” and “amazing germicide” used in “cow urine therapy.”
- Sun-dried cow dung cakes go for $220.33 a kilo. Touted for Hindu rituals, outdoor cooking, and eco-friendly fuel.
- Cow dung baby powder costs $214 for 250g, claimed to provide “spiritual power” and protect babies from “ill health and negative thoughts.”
One supplier boasts the urine is “collected and packed on the day of order from a desi cow calf,” calling it “the most competent disinfectant.” Another hails it as an “immunity booster” and a bacteria killer in bathing water.
Social Media Erupts: ‘Luxon, Slash These Ridiculous Prices!’
Outrage spilled onto social media after Kiwi X user @Holyhekatuiteka slammed the products alongside a photo of PM Christopher Luxon wearing an Indian headdress. She tweeted:
“Come on Luxon, once the FTA kicks in our dung cakes, cow piss and dung powder for our babies better come down in price! This is third world GARBAGE.”
The tweet referenced the new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Kiwis responded with disbelief and sharp wit:
- “Jeebus, I was joking yesterday when I said farmers should tap the new market and collect cow urine for our new consumers!”
- “Why are Indians importing cow piss into New Zealand? If they are going to drink cow urine, they should drink fresh NZ cow urine.”
- “We used to be a serious country.”
Many slammed the products and their rip-off prices as “disgusting” and outright “third world garbage.”
Trade Deal Drama: Health Miracle or Money-Making Scam?
The India-NZ Free Trade Agreement promotes Ayurveda, yoga, and traditional Indian medicine. India boasts it boosts its status as a global wellness powerhouse.
But scientists have slammed the health claims. A 2023 Indian Veterinary Research Institute study found cow urine can carry harmful bacteria. Some Indian states promote it for diabetes and arthritis, but experts warn there’s no real proof.
Navafresh itself recently faced trouble with the US FDA, forced to recall a joint pain supplement due to lead contamination. The company was also warned for selling “unapproved drugs” and misbranding.
The controversy raises questions about what else the FTA will flood New Zealand with—and if consumer safety is being swept under the rug. Critics argue these outrageously priced products exploit cultural traditions for profit and mislead buyers with bogus health claims.
