Authorities in China carried out investigations on over 50 factories that are alleged to be selling counterfeit seasoning and sauces. The move comes after six factories in Tianjin were raided by police authorities on Monday for purportedly selling fake sauces.

ECNS reported that the underground business has been booming yearly, with its net worth reaching to almost 100 million yuan ($14.5 million). The factories are believed to have been in operations for nearly a decade.

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They used below-the-market prices to sell their products, thus creating a well-established chain of distributors hence the profit recorded.

"One of the workshops that were raided is alleged to have manufactured vinegar from tap water, pigment, acetin and various additives," according to the Beijing News, noting that the ingredients were found at exposed tubs in a messy building.

Once finished, the products were labeled with known brands such as Maggi, Knorr, and Nestle for marketing.

Meanwhile, Nestle China said that they are aware about the incident and are working on it.

"Our anti-counterfeit team is looking into the matter," Nestle officials said. "Product experts will help law enforcement to identify dubious products."

A statement issued by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) said that they had sent a dispatch team to Tianjin to follow up on the claims.

"We will thoroughly rectify the problem of fake seasoning and present the results to the public in a timely manner," the statement read.

This was a response following growing public criticism that the CFDA was to be held liable for their failure in nabbing the suspects, according to BBC.

Tagschina, CFDA, counterfeit goods, Sauce and Spices