The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is assessing whether an illegal relabelling operation in India poses a risk to Canadian food imports.
Indian authorities raided a warehouse in Turbhe, on Mumbai’s outskirts, on August 25. They seized goods worth nearly $80,000. Officers also found chemicals, flavouring agents and printing machines that operators allegedly used to alter expiry dates and nutrition information.
The seized stock included products from PepsiCo, Nestlé, Coca-Cola and Unilever. Authorities have not accused those companies of wrongdoing. Investigators have instead focused on rogue exporters who operated through the warehouse.
The agency “is monitoring the situation to determine whether it presents any risk to imports into Canada. At this time, the CFIA has no information indicating that products associated with this operation entered Canada,” the regulator said.
Canadian-style label raises concern
A photographer at the raid saw a PepsiCo Kurkure packet carrying a fake nutrition label in English and French. Its design resembled the format Canada prescribes for packaged food.
Canadian rules generally require mandatory information on consumer prepackaged foods in both official languages. The CFIA also requires labels to remain accurate, truthful and not misleading under its labelling rules.
“The Canadian Food Inspection Agency takes food fraud, including false date markings, inaccurate nutrition information, and misleading origin claims seriously,” the regulator said.
The agency became the first foreign regulator to respond publicly to the Mumbai case. It can order product removal and impose monetary penalties when imported food breaks Canadian rules. It may also suspend an importer’s licence.
Nineteen exporters face scrutiny
Indian officials said the products had expired or were approaching their expiry dates. They linked the warehouse operators to 19 little-known export companies, but have not identified the intended destination countries.
The raid formed part of an unusually broad food-safety campaign across India. Federal and state authorities have increased checks on hygiene and other safety violations. In some cases, officials have issued instant suspension orders.
PepsiCo said it had no commercial engagement with the export companies that reports identified. It also said it did not endorse unauthorised exports.
“Our snack food products manufactured in India are meant for sale in India, unless otherwise specifically authorised by us to be exported,” the company said.
India’s commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe led the warehouse operation. “We have written to concerned authorities about our findings, who will investigate details of the exporters involved,” he said.
The CFIA says Canadian law prohibits the sale of food through false, misleading or deceptive claims. Its latest food fraud report says inspectors use surveillance, sampling and laboratory testing to detect violations. The agency can escalate enforcement when businesses fail to comply.
