Egyptian authorities have shut down an unlicensed biscuit factory after inspectors found it was producing imitation biscuits using expired ingredients and charcoal-based colouring instead of cocoa.

The factory, located in Kafr Shukr in Qalyubia governorate, 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 resembling those of a well-known international snack brand, as well as biscuits intended for use in ice cream production.

Inspectors seized about 1.8 tonnes of raw materials and finished products during the operation.Among the items were a 100-kilogram barrel of expired glucose and three boxes containing about 30 kilograms of expired Royal-branded butter.

Officials also found ingredients of unknown origin and other materials for which the operators could not provide invoices or documents showing their source.

Inspectors find vegetable carbon used in biscuits

Notably, inspectors discovered a plastic barrel containing E153 vegetable carbon, a black food colouring that authorities said was being used to give the biscuits their dark appearance instead of cocoa.

Vegetable carbon is an approved food colouring in some markets. However, the concern raised by authorities centred on its reported use as a substitute for cocoa at an unlicensed factory that was also handling expired and undocumented ingredients.

The inspection also uncovered 50 cartons of finished biscuits weighing about seven kilograms each, alongside 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.

Egypt steps up food-safety enforcement

Following the raid, Qalyubia Governor Hossam Abdel Fattah ordered authorities to intensify inspections of food factories, markets and other commercial establishments across the governorate.

He warned that businesses failing to comply with health and regulatory requirements would face legal action. The raid comes as Egyptian authorities continue efforts to strengthen oversight of food production, particularly around factory licensing, ingredient traceability and product safety.

The case has also raised concerns over the unauthorised use of established product labels, with authorities investigating how some of the biscuits were presented in the market.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the outcome of the legal case or whether further facilities linked to the operators are under investigation.