Egyptian Oreo factory busted for using charcoal instead of cocoa

CAIRO, Aug 14: Egyptian authorities have shut down an unlicensed biscuit factory in Qalyubia after inspectors uncovered expired ingredients, undocumented raw materials and a black vegetable-carbon colouring reportedly being used as a cheaper substitute for cocoa.

The factory, located in Kafr Shukr north of Cairo, was raided during a food-safety campaign by the Qalyubia Supply Directorate and local supply and internal trade officials. Authorities said the facility was producing biscuits, including products labelled “Oreo,” as well as biscuits intended for use in ice cream production.

Inspectors seized around 1.8 tonnes of raw materials and finished products, including a 100-kilogram barrel of expired glucose and three boxes containing 30 kilograms of expired Royal-branded butter.

Among the seized materials was a plastic barrel containing E153 vegetable-carbon colouring, which inspectors reportedly found being used to give the biscuits their dark appearance instead of cocoa. Authorities also discovered ingredients of unknown origin and materials for which the factory could not provide invoices or documents proving their source.

The raid also uncovered 50 cartons of finished biscuits weighing about 7 kilograms each, along with 55 sacks containing approximately 1,100 kilograms of biscuits reportedly intended for reprocessing.

Authorities confiscated the raw materials and finished products and opened a legal case against those responsible for the facility. Qalyubia Governor Hossam Abdel Fattah ordered intensified inspections of food factories, markets and other establishments across the governorate, warning that businesses failing to meet health and regulatory standards would face legal action.