Canada investigates risk to imports after fake food labels uncovered in India

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is investigating whether an illegal operation in India, which involved forging nutrition information and expiry dates on snack foods and other products, poses a risk to Canadian imports. The probe follows a raid on a warehouse in Mumbai last week.

Indian authorities seized products worth nearly $80,000, along with chemicals and printing equipment used to alter expiry dates and nutrition data on products from PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Unilever to make them eligible for export. No charges have been filed against these companies, as the investigation is focused on non-compliant exporters, according to CTV News Canada.

The Canadian agency said it is monitoring the situation to determine whether it poses a threat to imports, adding that it has no information indicating that products linked to the operation have entered Canada. The agency emphasized that it takes food fraud seriously, including the manipulation of dates, nutrition information, and origin claims.

Canada is the first foreign country to respond to the incident, as India intensifies its unprecedented crackdown on food safety violations. During the raid, authorities found a package of Kurkure chips with a fake label in English and French, closely resembling the format required in Canada.

Indian authorities confirmed that the products were expired or near expiry, and that the warehouse operated on behalf of 19 unknown exporters.

The Canadian agency stated it takes appropriate action when non-compliant products are discovered, including recalls, license suspensions, and fines.