The Government Analyst – Food and Drug Department has issued an alert to warn consumers of counterfeit cans labelled ‘Del Monte’ gold and white corn.
The alert said that the counterfeited product was being wholesaled in cartons of 24 – 432g cans. It said that the cartons are labelled ‘Super Foods’ and that the contents are ‘Manufactured by Super Foods Inc, of Lot 8 Ruimveldt Industrial Estate, Georgetown, Guyana.’
The department has commenced an investigation to determine the exact location where the counterfeiting is being done. Containers/consignments are currently being detained for comprehensive examination before items are entered into the country and other products suspected to be counterfeited are also being investigated.
The counterfeited ‘Del Monte’ gold and white corn are canned in semi-rigid containers with a gold coloured labelled cap which become indented and deformed with firm finger pressure.
The FDD said that this was a canning/packaging defect that does not guarantee the integrity of the contents, which may lead to the possible inflow of air (oxygen) and this can give rise to oxidation resulting in chemical and or microbiological contamination. This can result in broken seals, bloating and or explosion of the cans, which can put consumers at risk for poisoning by chemicals and or microorganisms. It stated that the genuine product has a silver coloured cap, is hard to the touch and is difficult to indent the can.
It revealed that the manufacturer, Del Monte Foods/Del Monte Brands of San-Francisco, USA has confirmed that the sole authorized distributer of Del Monte Foods/Del Monte Brands products in Guyana is Toucan Industries Inc of Lot 10 Water Street, Georgetown.
Del Monte Foods distanced itself from this gold coloured cap product which it did not manufacture.
The department advised unsuspecting wholesalers and distributors of this product to immediately remove it from their shelves or distributing system and return it to ‘Super Foods Inc’ or surrender same to the Food and Drug Department or any Environmental Health Officer in the Regions. Consumers are advised not to use this or any other canned product with the above mentioned characteristic.
The department issued a call to the general public to provide them with information of other canned products with the same characteristic, while they will conduct further investigations inclusive of analytical testing within their capability in the interest of consumer safety and protection.
