The Indian subsidiary of US food manufacturing giant Heinz suspects that a complaint about a fungal growth in one of its ketchup bottles is fraudulent.

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The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has collected samples from shops in Mumbai following a complaint from the Retail and Dispensing Chemists Association (RDCA). The samples are currently being tested.


Heinz has complained that Kishore Shah, president of the RDCA, has refused to part with the suspect bottle, or indeed six other complaint bottles he claims to have, leaving Heinz unable to follow its normal complaint redressal procedure. The Economic Times of India also reports that Heinz’ suspicions have been aroused by the presence of a former employee, who had been dismissed, at a meeting called by Shah.


Heinz general manager V. Mohan said he was aware of no genuine complaints so far, adding that Heinz had carried out its own due diligence which showed no evidence of any quality issue.

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