In the food world, consumer trust is a key pillar. However, recently, a case of counterfeit canned sardines has rocked the food industry. Oceana Group, owner of the Lucky Star canned fish brand, has strongly denied allegations that counterfeit sardine cans discovered during a police raid in Daleside, Gauteng, last week belonged to it.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group said investigators and third-party experts had confirmed that the cans were counterfeit and used an opening mechanism that did not match that of Lucky Star. “The labels are counterfeit and we do not use easy-open lids on our canned sardines,” it said.
The rebranded Lucky Star cans were packed in cartons marked “Woolworths Food”. The case comes amid a national food taint crisis, with 890 cases of foodborne illness reported across all provinces since September, with Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal the worst affected. At least 22 children have died.
The newspaper reported that a police raid on a factory in Gauteng uncovered counterfeit Lucky Star sardine cans and printing equipment used to alter the expiry dates.
Oceana said that during an on-site inspection, evidence including label printing machines, easy-open cans and other substances and objects not intended for Lucky Star manufacturing were found.
Investigations established that an international manufacturer produced the canned sardines under the Woolworths brand, according to Oceana. Woolworths imported and received them, but then rejected the batch and asked the supplier to take it back. After collection, some of the consignment appeared to have been intercepted, illegally rebranded as Lucky Star and repacked into Woolworths-labelled cartons.
The scandal prompted a swift response from Woolworths, which said it was aware of the police investigation. The firm had serious grounds to believe that the product in question may have been part of a consignment imported from an international supplier that had been rejected by Woolworths due to its failure to meet strict quality control standards.
In response, Oceana advised consumers to check the authenticity of counterfeit products by examining the label for clarity of printing and any smudging, checking whether the label is misaligned and poorly adhered to the box, and looking at the expiry date printed in ink on the bottom of the box.
This case highlights the critical importance for consumers to remain vigilant and exercise discernment when purchasing food products. It is imperative to choose trusted brands and to carefully check each product before consuming it. Companies, for their part, must strengthen their quality controls to ensure the safety and reliability of the food they offer on the market.