Relabeling - investigations complete

Jumped as a tiger again...

Results of the investigations carried out in connection with the investigations into relabelling of the food companies located in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district have been completed. No health hazard identified. The public prosecutor is considering how to proceed.

The Brandenburg State Laboratory, which was newly set up at the beginning of this year, passed its first test of ensuring a high level of consumer protection in Brandenburg together with the responsible authorities.

In connection with investigations by the public prosecutor's office and inspections by the food monitoring department, a total of 28 food samples (mainly meat and sausage products as well as delicatessen salads) were immediately processed in the state laboratory at a high, professional level with the latest analysis for analysis and food law assessment. The focal points of the investigation included sensory surveys on the nature and identification, microbiological investigations and chemical investigations on fitness for human consumption and with regard to a possible health hazard as well as protection against deception with regard to animal species components.

It was found: 

No aspects of a health hazard were determined in any of the samples examined.

A limitation of the suitability for human consumption in connection with a no longer existing marketability must be declared for 6 samples based on the sensory test results in connection with the microbiological analysis.

In a further 18 samples, additional labeling deficiencies (e.g. missing or incomplete weight information, missing address, incomplete animal species declaration) were identified as a violation of the Food Labeling Ordinance.

No food law complaints were detectable in only 4 samples.

In addition, questions of labeling or re-labeling had to be assessed in addition to the food law assessment. The best-before date had expired for 4 samples, but only 2 samples were assessed as having restrictions on their suitability for human consumption. A relabeling of the best-before date (which is legally possible under certain conditions) was detectable for 6 samples. This did not affect relabeling of expiry dates.

The laboratory analyzes and the legal assessment of the food samples are now combined with the on-site surveys of the food monitoring and the investigations of the public prosecutor to form a final statement.

Source: Potsdam [ mlur ]