Brazil's "fake coffee" sparks controversy: How can consumers tell the difference?

Published 2025년 3월 18일

Tridge summary

Brazil is facing a controversy over 'fake coffee' products that imitate well-known coffee brand packaging, potentially confusing consumers. These products are marketed as coffee-flavored drink powders, with the true ingredients hidden in small print. The government is investigating the clarity of the product labeling and the ingredients themselves, as not all 'fake coffee' packages clearly list the recipe and some misleadingly include images of coffee beans. In February, three factories suspected of producing 'fake coffee' were seized by the federal government due to non-compliant raw materials, with the investigation still ongoing to ensure consumer protection against such misrepresentations in the coffee market.

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Original content

However, Brazil's "fake coffee" producers have recently sparked controversy because their product packaging imitates well-known brands, which may cause confusion among consumers. The description of these "coffee-flavored drink powders" is usually marked in small print at the bottom of the packaging, making them difficult to detect. In January 2023, the price of coffee beans was close to 50 reais per kilogram, while 500 grams of "fake coffee" was sold for only 13.99 reais. Hugo Caruso, director of the plant-derived products inspection department of the Ministry of Agriculture, said that the price of coffee beans was close to 50 reais per kilogram, while the price of 500 grams of "fake coffee" was only 13.99 reais. Caruso said that although "fake coffee" is marked as a substitute, the government is still investigating whether its labeling is clear enough to avoid fraud. The department is reviewing the ingredients of the product because only products containing coffee beans can be ...

Source: Foodmate