Police smashed a counterfeit food ring allegedly distributing salt-laden soy sauce and MSG products disguised as trusted brands in Thailand.

Officers raided seven locations across Bangkok and neighbouring provinces as they cracked down on the fake racket flooding local shops with the knockoff condiments.

Led by Police Colonel Phuwadet Chulkasewi, the Economic Crime Division stormed warehouses and homes in Lopburi, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, and Bangkok.

Investigators found boxes of counterfeit goods manufactured using substandard ingredients and in unhygienic facilities.

They seized 118,100 fake soy sauce labels, 1,600 soy sauce stickers for boxes, 6528 bottles of fake soy sauce, one gallon of soy sauce flavouring, 1,521 recycled soy sauce bottles, 360 empty plastic bottles, two large mixing tanks, and 144 bottles of counterfeit 'soy sauce formula 1'.

Chemical ingredients such as acetic acid, one sack of sodium benzoate, 48 sacks of salt, five sacks of MSG, and food colouring were also confiscated.

Police announced the results of the raids in a press conference on December 1.

They said the products were being distributed across Thailand's Isaan region using enclosed pickup trucks to avoid detection.

Unsuspecting consumers and restaurants were duped when they bought fake products that looked identical to the real thing but failed basic safety and quality standards.

The Central Investigation Bureau said: 'The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) cautions the public and restaurants to exercise caution when selecting consumer products. Buy from reputable sources and brands. Always check labels, caps, and packaging to ensure they meet standards before purchasing.

'Consumer products manufactured in unauthorised locations with substandard manufacturing processes can pose a risk of harm to the body. Members of the public with information about the sale of counterfeit trademarks can report this information directly to the Central Investigation Bureau.'

Authorities did not disclose the number of arrested suspects, who will be charged with for 'possessing and selling products with counterfeit trademarks, producing fake food, and incorrect labelling'.