Fake Budweiser factory video goes viral

A video showing Chinese workers filling counterfeit Budweiser cans in unhygienic conditions has been viewed millions of times.

The video shows an underground factory – in Dongguan – which reportedly produced an estimated 60,000 fake cans of Budweiser beer per month before being raided and closed down by the authorities last month.

The video shows the factory workers scooping up liquid into cans using their bare hands. According to local reports the cans appear to be genuine Budweiser units that have been dismantled, filled with cheap, low-quality beer and re-sealed. The production date markings on the cans were then removed and replaced with new dates.

The case demonstrates once again that counterfeiting is not restricted to low-volume, high-value goods, with the criminals in this case pushing a volume scam.

The American beer giant said in a statement that the video seems to be genuine and that it has launched an investigation into the incident.

"The video that has been circulating on some social networks is from a small-scale counterfeit operator in China. We have been working with local authorities to shut it down immediately," it continued.

Local news reports say that along with production equipment, the local authorities confiscated 4,600 can tops, 9,800 cans and 400 cartons.

The public should be wary of cans that seem to have a rough join at the top or other unusual characteristics, such as a different taste, they said, and should make sure they purchase goods from trusted retail outlets.