PATHUM THANI: Consumer officials found a large quantity of falsely labelled monosodium glutamate products, soap and other consumer goods when they searched a factory in Lam Luk Ka district on Tuesday.
Officers of the Consumer Protection Police Division and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had raided premises at Orrada Factory Land following complaints it produced falsely packaged monosodium glutamate, dish washing liquid and other products, Pol Maj Gen Wiwat Chaisangkha, deputy chief of the Central Investigation Bureau, told reporters on Tuesday.
Pol Maj Gen Natthasak Chaovanasai, commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division and the FDA deputy secretary-general Supattra Boonserm were also present at the media briefing.
During the raid, migrant workers were found packing counterfeit consumer products.
The team seized about 5,000 packs of fake Ajinomoto, the most popular brand of MSG, more than 22 tonnes of raw MSG, 1.4 tonnes of salt, 110,000 empty packets for MSG, 20 bags of falsely labelled Sunlight dish washing liquid, and more than 25,000 labelled empty bags, 2,088 falsely labelled bars of Bennett soap, at least 20 fertiliser sacks containing soap awaiting packaging, and packaging equipment. (continues below)
Officials examine sacks containing counterfeit consumer products and raw materials at premises in Orrada Factory Land in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka area on Tuesday. (Photo:Pongpat Wongyala)
Pol Maj Gen Wiwat said the police investigation found that the factory had produced fake products for more than one year. It had produced seasoning powder by mixing MSG with salt, which was then packaged as Ajinomoto.
The products were sold in the South, mainly in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat, Pol Maj Gen Wiwat said.
Officials said initial charges were laid against the company for violating the Food Act, the Hazardous Substances Act , Type 1, and Cosmetics Act.
Damaged parties were being invited to file complaints against "the producer" of the products.
Police did not release the name of "the producer".
FDA deputy secretary-general Supattra said the seized goods were falsely labelled as legal brands. It was difficult to examine such products. She warned consumers against buying goods sold at unusually cheap prices.
People who had information about the production of fake products should call the FDA Hotline, 1556.
Chai Prableng, managing director of Bennett soap products, said goods falsely labelled Bennett soap were often sold at flea markets or on Facebook.