PATHUM THANI, THAILAND – A large illegal meatball and sausage factory was uncovered in Pathum Thani, leading to a mass seizure of spoiled products.
Illegal Sausage Factory Raided
On Monday, investigators from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), accompanied by consumer protection police and the Department of Livestock Development, raided a factory site in the Lam Luk Ka district. They discovered a large-scale operation producing meat products without any authorization.
A total of 10,416 bags of non-compliant products, along with production machinery and raw materials, were seized. The estimated total value of the confiscated goods exceeds seven million Baht.
Authorities Name and Shame
FDA Secretary-General, Pharmacist Suphatra Bunsoem, released a comprehensive list of affected brands, encompassing 20 different product names from the illegal factory. The agency has categorized these into two hazardous groups.
The first category includes six items that were not marked with an FDA approval number. The second, larger group consists of 14 products falsely bearing a fake FDA number intended to mislead consumers.
This Merchandise Never Saw Inspection
Products without registration include beef meatball brands like “CHALAME” and the same manufacturer’s chicken meatball variants. This initial group comprises a total of six different products.
The FDA stressed that these goods entered the market without any quality control. Consumers are advised to be immediately vigilant for these names and remove the products from their refrigerators.
Disguised with Fake Numbers
Those responsible for the factory took a more sophisticated approach with 14 additional brands, printing fabricated or counterfeit approval numbers on the packaging. This includes well-known product names such as the Moo-Yor brand “Mae Ploy Boon” in Ubon recipe style and various “PPM (Chef P’Moo)” varieties.
The brands “CFP”, “Mae Ploy Suk”, and “Super Pork” with grade A pork meatballs are also on the blacklist. Despite the printed numbers, these products never underwent official inspection, according to the authorities.
Clear Message to Retailers and Customers
The FDA’s warning extends beyond end consumers to retailers, restaurants, and mobile vendors. They are instructed to immediately remove the 20 brands from their offerings, as their sale is illegal and endangers consumers’ health.
The agency strongly advises against consuming these products due to their uncontrolled origin and ingredients. Consumers are recommended to dispose of any purchased items immediately.
Safety via App and Hotline
To verify the authenticity of FDA numbers, customers can utilize the “Mor Phrom” app or consult the official website of the Food and Drug Administration. A quick cross-reference allows for the identification of counterfeit products.
For suspected cases or information on illegal manufacturers, the FDA is available around the clock. Reports can be made via the hotline number 1556.