Several boxes containing fake food seasoning were confiscated by an Anti-fraud Division Team of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group national office from four stalls at the Libertad Public Market in Bacolod City at about 10 a.m. yesterday.

CIDG-Bacolod head, Chief Insp. Fernando Salvatierra, said that the raid, led by Supt. Maria Isabel Santos and Nestle Philippines representative Stanley Zambarrano, was conducted on the strength of a search warrant issued by a Manila judge.

Salvatierra said Nestle Philippines, the maker of Maggi Magic Sarap food seasoning, received information that their product was being forged and sold in different stores in Bacolod.

The vendors were not arrested as they did not know that the items they were selling were fake. The boxes of confiscated food seasoning were brought by the CIDG agents to Camp Crame for custody.

The selling of forged products like food seasoning could be hazardous as they do not pass the screening of the Bureau of Food and Drugs Administration, Salvatierra said.

He said that sale of fake goods is punishable under the law as it is equivalent to the violation of the infringement rights law.*APN

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