Consumer warning about counterfeit food

(WPRI) - Investigators have issued a warning about counterfeit foods. A worldwide threat, eating these foods can lead to major health issues.

In response to the problem, a national database was launched to try and track the fakes. Unfortunately, it becomes extremely difficult to track the products during production and shipping. Then, once the food hits the market, consumers often do not realize they've been ripped off until they are sick.

According to Dr. John Spink, Associate Director of the Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection Program at Michigan State University, "The bad guys aren't following good manufacturing practices. There's such a risk for contamination that can be very lethal."

The top percentages of counterfeit food include:

• Olive Oil (16%) - diluted with cheaper oils
• Milk (14%) - watered down
• Honey (7%) - altered with corn syrup and sugar

Whether the foods are completely altered or diluted, it can still be dangerous to consumers. The most recent scare came after college students in England drank vodka laced with Methanol, leaving them with permanent vision damage.