Counterfeit food products are increasingly becoming a global issue: Just recently, customs officials in Amberg seized counterfeit candy from Iraq - and now the United Kingdom is also affected. A company from Luton has been fined heavily after supplying stores nationwide with fake Wonka chocolate bars. The managing director pleaded guilty to violating food safety and trademark regulations. The company had imported low-quality chocolate bars and repackaged them as Wonka bars without the permission of the trademark owner, Ferrero Group. It was also found that the chocolate contained undeclared allergens such as peanuts and almonds.

This case highlights once again that counterfeit food seriously endangers consumer health worldwide and damages brand reputation. For example, an inspection revealed that the production site of the counterfeit bars was heavily contaminated and infested with rodents and birds. Brand owners can protect themselves from such blatant counterfeiting by equipping their products with state-of-the-art security features. From November 13 to 16, 2024, KURZ will present a wide range of solutions contributing to reliable brand protection at the Interfood & Drink fair in Sofia, Bulgaria. Interested parties can visit Stand D1a in Hall 4 to get an impression.

Image: Towfiqu barbhuiya (Unsplash)