’Tis the season for fake seasoning

Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday advised the public to be careful about buying food seasonings after customs personnel recently intercepted a shipment of fake packets of the goods.

In a news conference, Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon warned Thursday that the spread of counterfeit food seasonings might result in serious health problems for the consumers, implying that other contraband shipments might have slipped past customs and were being sold to the public.

“The health and safety of the public may be jeopardized if counterfeiting is left unchecked,” Biazon said.

He said he had directed BOC personnel to intensify operations against unscrupulous traders smuggling in fake food preservatives and seasonings.

“The highly dangerous effects on consumers of fake products and medicines should receive increasing attention among policy-makers and law enforcers if we are to maintain a healthy environment,” Biazon said.

Biazon said smuggling in of bogus food seasonings came to light after customs personnel recently inspected two 40-foot container vans containing the items at the Port of Manila. He did not say from what country the goods came. Marlon Ramos