Egypt: Biscuit factory using coal instead of cocoa seized
In a striking food safety incident that sparked widespread outrage in Egypt, a regulatory campaign uncovered an unlicensed biscuit factory that used vegetable charcoal instead of cocoa to give some of its products a black color, alongside expired and unidentified raw materials.
Supply and regulatory authorities in the Qalyubia Governorate raided the factory, located in the town of Kafr Shukr, and found that it was operating outside the official system, using adulterated and unauthorized materials to manufacture food products, including “Oreo”-style biscuits and biscuits used in ice cream production.
The operation led to the seizure of approximately 1.8 tons of spoiled raw materials and products. The incident triggered astonishment and condemnation, given the factory’s large size, its dense workforce, and the daily movement of trucks transporting raw materials and distributing products, all without the activity being detected until by chance.
Health News
The raid was carried out during an intensive campaign conducted by the Supply Directorate in coordination with the Kafr Shukr Supply Administration and the Internal Trade Administration. Inspection activities revealed the use of the coloring agent “E153,” which is vegetable charcoal, as a cheap substitute for cocoa to impart a black color to the biscuits, along with reliance on unidentified and expired materials, without invoices proving their origin.
The seized items included a 100-kilogram expired glucose drum, three crates of expired “Royal” butter weighing 30 kilograms, a plastic barrel containing vegetable charcoal coloring, 50 cartons of finished “Oreo”-style biscuits weighing 7 kilograms per carton, and 55 bags of biscuits intended for reprocessing, with a total weight of 1,100 kilograms.
Authorities confirmed that all seized items were secured and that the necessary official report was drawn up regarding the incident, paving the way for submission to the Public Prosecution to complete legal procedures.
