Heinz Egypt, the maker of the famous ketchup brand, has said a recent online video of purportedly below-standard tomato processing at one of its factories in Egypt is "misleading."

The footage, which surfaced online last week, shows two men throwing piles of tomato into an outdoor machine. The tomatoes did not appear to have been sorted or inspected beforehand.

"The recent story concerning our tomato factory in Egypt is completely misleading and inaccurate," read the statement which was published on Saturday in both Arabic and English.

"The edited footage provides an unreal picture and neglects [some] processing stages, thus giving a wrong impression," it read.

The video has angered many social media users who have questioned the quality of tomato used and expressed concerns over the level of hygiene maintained in the factories.

The prominent food company said in the statement that it applies the highest production standards and uses "high-quality, clean" tomatoes, adding that it is committed to ensuring the safety of its consumers.

The company, which was established in Egypt in 1991, is a condiment market leader, producing a variety of sauces and products including tomato paste, mayonnaise and vinegar.

According to 2013 data, the company made annual sales of EGP 390 million and monopolises 75 percent of the ketchup market.




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