Fake foods and drinks

DO YOU REALLY KNOW WHAT YOU ARE CONSUMING?

BUYING FAKE FOOD AND DRINK CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

WHAT ARE FAKE FOOD AND DRINK?

You may have heard of fake luxury goods such as watches, sunglasses, bags and clothes but did you know that food and drink is also copied illegally? Unlike the manufacturers of genuine food and drink, the makers of fakes usually do not comply with safety regulations.

Therefore, fake food and drink may be a threat to your health and safety.

WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID BUYING FAKE FOOD AND DRINK

You may be after a bargain when shopping for food and drink but the price that you end up paying for a fake product – both physically and financially -may be much higher than the price of the original.

Fake food and drink are often dangerous to consume as they are not produced with any regard for health and safety standards. They often contain ingredients that are not suitable for consumption which can even have lethal consequences. For example, fake milk can contain vegetable oil, whey, caustic soda, detergent and  even toxic compounds such as melamine and formaldehyde, which can lead to cancer. Also, alcoholic beverages have been found to contain methanol, which can lead to blindness or induce a coma, and fake sweets containing poisonous industrial red dye have been seized.

HOW CAN YOU SPOT FAKE FOOD AND DRINK?

You can identify fake food and drink by using your common sense and applying four

PLACE

If food or drink is sold from an outlet such as a street vendor, open marketplace, online marketplace or social media site there is an increased chance that the product is fake. In order to make sure you buy original products, only use reputable stockiest or shops.

PRICE

If the price of the food or drink is below the normal market price, there is an increased chance the product is fake. In other words, if the bargain seems too good to be true, it probably is.

If you do not know the price of the food or drink that  you wish to buy, you can always check the recommended retail price in a reputable retail outlet, such as a supermarket, before you make your purchase.

PRODUCT QUALITY

The quality of fake food and drink is often low compared to the original.

Rakija is the most common illegally copied spirit in Serbia. Watch out for white particles or sediments in the bottle. In addition, if the alcohol tastes of smells bad, don’t drink it. In particular, always avoid drinks that smell of nail varnish.

PACKAGING

In order to keep costs down, the makers of fake food and drink often cut corners when it comes to packaging.

They try to imitate the packaging of the original product they are copying but the quality is often very poor.

Take a close look at the quality of the printed images on the package and consider checking websites of reputable stockiest to see if you can find an identical product packed in a specific way. If you cannot, there is a good chance that the product is fake.

Indicators:

Fake food and drink are often produced by non-Serbian speakers, and therefore, spelling mistakes on the labels and the packaging are very common. Always look closely for spelling mistakes on the labels and packaging, including the small print.

You can also check the bar code on the product. Get an App on your mobile that scans bar codes and you will quickly be able to see if the product has the correct bar code.

Finally, take a closer look at the quality of the package itself. The construction of packages containing fake food and drink are often weak and substandard. For example, check the cap on the bottle. If the seal is broken, there is a good chance that the product is a fake or that it has been tampered with in some way.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU HAVE PURCHASED FOOD OR DRINK AND YOU SUSPECT IT IS FAKE?

You may have bought food or drink on the understanding it is genuine. However, if you later believe the product is fake you should contact the original manufacturer and/or the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications.

Your information will help protect yourself and others from fakes.

WHO CAN I CONTACT IF I NEED HELP?

If you have any questions about fake products you are welcome to contact:

Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunication
Sector of Market Inspection
E-mail: stopfalsifikati@mtt.gov.rs
Website: www.mtt.gov.rs

If you have any questions about unsafe food and drinks, please contact:

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management and/or Ministry of Health-Sector for Inspection Affairs

Website: www.minpolj.gov.rs

www.zdravlje.gov.rs