Canadian labels of recalled PHL tuna were 'tampered'

The labels on cans of Philippine tuna that were supposedly recalled from Canadian shops by a Canadian distributor were tampered with, deleting certain ingredients, according to an official of Century Pacific Group, the manufacturer of Century Tuna Bicol Express. The original label, which declares that the product contains soya oil and soy protein, was covered by another label which bears a French translation of the ingredients, Honelet Sayas, Century Pacific’s quality assurance manager, said in an interview with GMA News. In a release posted on its website, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, along with product distributor AFOD Ltd., warned people allergic to soy not to consume Century Tuna Bicol Express. It added, however, that there have been no reported illnesses due to consumption of this product. Sayas said it appears that the labels on the canned tuna product, pictures of which are on the CFIA website, have been tampered with. The official distributors of Century Tuna — the brand name of Century Pacific — in Canada are Apo Products Ltd. and Uno Foods Inc., not AFOD, according to the quality assurance manager. The original label, which declares that the product contains soya oil and soy protein, was covered by another label which bears a French translation of the ingredients, Sayas explained. She said the label over the original failed to include in its translation the product’s soy content. “Tampered ‘yung label. Natakpan yung original label (The label was tampered. The original label was covered)," Sayas said. Century Pacific has a separate label for products shipped to Canada, bearing a French translation of the ingredients as required by Canadian laws, she stressed, saying the official label clearly indicates the product’s soy content. While Century Pacific's export and legal departments are now trying to contact AFOD, Sayas said it is possible that AFOD bought cans of Century Bicol Express from supermarkets in the Philippines and then shipped them to Canada. - Jerrie M. Abella/VS/OMG, GMA News