[imagesource: SAPS]

Do you know where all the food Woolworths stocks come from? Some of the answers might shock you.

Gauteng police have just arrested seven workers during a raid at a factory where they were packaging and altering dates on expired Lucky Star canned fish and packing them in boxes labelled ‘Woolworths Food’.

While it is unclear if the boxes were being sent to the Woolies many of us shop at, a counterfeit product was being made and packaged in a box with the brand’s name on it.

Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, the provincial police spokesperson in Gauteng, confirmed that seven undocumented migrants, aged between 18 and 29, were arrested for this crime, while the owner of the operation remains at large, per IOL.

“On (Monday) November 11, 2024, a joint operation between Crime Intelligence from Zamdela, Sasolburg and SAPS Kliprivier yielded significant results in the fight against counterfeit goods,” said Sibeko.

She said during a raid along Eland Street, Daleside, law enforcement authorities seized a large quantity of counterfeit Lucky Star pilchards.

Image: SAPS

The police found printing equipment that was used to alter the expiry dates on the containers of expired Lucky Star packaging and these altered Lucky Star tins were being placed in boxes marked ‘Woolworths Food’.

“Police opened a case of contravention of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972), Section 17(c), possession of suspected stolen properties and contravention of the Immigration Act, Act 13 of 2002.”

Woolworths has yet to make a statement.

Meanwhile, Hamzeh Majiet, a new product developer on Instagram, has been exposing the little-known secrets of who is really behind some of our favourite Woolies snacks and foods.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hamzeh Majiet | New Product Development (@hamzeh.majiet)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hamzeh Majiet | New Product Development (@hamzeh.majiet)

All this means is that you pay for the brand.

The difference in price is R10 – with Fair Cape Full Cream Plain Yoghurt 1kg going for R39.99 while Woolies’ version goes for R49.99.

Good to know…

[source:iol]