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Special monitoring program on pesticides for peppers continued

The Ministry of Nutrition and Rural Areas announced on Friday (March 12) that further results are available from the current special program of the Baden-Württemberg food monitoring system on plant protection products. This dense control program continues to check seasonal foods for pesticide residues. The Ministry of Food and Rural Areas reports regularly on the results of this program. Most recently, the ministry announced the results of this special control program in press release no. 10/2004 on January 16, 2004. It will be examined whether there are any violations of the German maximum residue limit regulation. This regulation serves the preventive health protection. In the previous cases, exceeding the maximum levels was not associated with any specific health risk for consumers.

Sweet peppers are currently the food in which the food inspection system most frequently detects residues. In the winter of 2003/04, a total of 58 samples from conventionally grown sweet peppers were examined for pesticide residues at the Stuttgart Chemical and Veterinary Investigation Office (CVUA). 32 samples (55,2 percent) were objected to by the food inspectorate because the maximum residue levels were exceeded. Sweet peppers from Spain (62 percent), Turkey (36 percent) and goods of unknown origin (86 percent) were subject to complaints about exceeding maximum quantities. In the previous year, paprika was already noticed with frequent excess quantities of pesticide residues. On the basis of these previous results, the CVUA will continue to examine peppers in particular in the future.

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State Secretary Müller at the German Food Law Day

The new food and feed code brings more consumer safety. It underlines the importance of preventive consumer protection, creates more transparency and facilitates information for consumers and businesses. We are bringing together a number of individual laws in one body of law, creating more clarity and thus also making a contribution to reducing bureaucracy, "said Alexander Müller, State Secretary in the Federal Consumers' Ministry, today at the 17th German Food Law Day in Wiesbaden.

The law corresponds to the EU's new strategy formulated in the White Paper on food safety. According to Müller, it is based on the principle of a uniform concept that encompasses the entire food chain. This fundamental reorientation of EU food safety policy sees feed as part of the food chain. That is why the EU is also assuming a uniform regulatory area for food and feed. "With our draft for the Food and Feed Code, we are also anchoring this comprehensive understanding of food safety in German law," said the State Secretary.

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As reported by the Federal Statistical Office, turnover in the hospitality industry in Germany in January 2004 was nominally (at current prices) 1,7% lower and real (at constant prices) 3,5% lower than in January 2003 October 2002 observed negative sales development in the hospitality industry also at the beginning of the year 2004 continued. After calendar and seasonal adjustment of the data (Berlin method 4 - BV 4), sales in January 2004 were nominally 2003% less than in December 0,2 and 0,3% less in real terms.

   In all three branches of the hospitality industry, sales fell both in nominal and real terms compared to January 2003: in the canteens and caterers, which also include the suppliers of the airlines (nominal - 2,2%, real - 2,8%), in the hotel and catering sector (nominal - 1,0%, real - 4,8%) and in the catering industry (nominal - 2,1%, real - 2,7%).

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Production reserves still

The most recent pig census in Denmark from January of this year showed a total of 12,96 million animals, only a slight increase compared to the previous year's census. The number of fattening pigs in Denmark continues to be reduced. With just under 3,67 million animals, 2,2 percent fewer fattening pigs were counted in January than a year ago. On the other hand, as in the previous year, the proportion of piglets and young pigs increased: The number of piglets at the latest counting date totaled 7,90 million, which is almost 170.000 more than at the beginning of 2003.

The number of breeding sows, which is decisive for the further determination of the population, remained almost unchanged at 1,377 million heads. Within this group, however, the proportion of gilts and young pigs intended for breeding increased sharply, namely by five percent. This means that there are still production reserves dormant in Denmark, and the pig population could continue to grow slightly in the medium term.

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Whole chickens or turkeys are less important

When buying poultry meat, German consumers clearly prefer portion-appropriate cuts such as legs or breast schnitzel. Of the amount of chickens purchased by German private households - in 2003 this was just under 222.000 tonnes - only 25 percent were whole animals (fresh or frozen). In contrast, fresh chicken pieces made up 40 percent of the range, frozen pieces 35 percent. The trend is even more pronounced on the turkey market. Of the more than 100.000 tons of turkey meat that ended up in consumers' shopping baskets last year, only nine percent of all purchases were whole animals (fresh or frozen). Frozen turkey parts made up ten percent, fresh turkey parts 81 percent.

In total, household purchases of poultry meat amounted to around 372.000 tonnes last year. In terms of product weight, chicken plays the most important role in the poultry market with around 60 percent of all purchases, followed by turkeys with 27 percent, ducks with five percent and geese with three percent. The importance of the shops depends to a large extent on the type of poultry offered and less on the type of poultry. The frozen market is clearly dominated by discounters for chickens with a share of 58 percent and for turkeys with 50 percent of the purchase quantities. On the other hand, the preferred shops for fresh poultry are the large hypermarkets with sales areas of 800 square meters or more.

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The chickens are cackling - FAL scientist studies the environmental influences of broiler fattening on the soil

A broiler produces 115 g of feces per day, which is more than 2 million tons per year for production in Germany alone. How much this impacts on the environmental side with 33 million kg of nitrogen and 7 million kg of phosphorus, especially with regard to the pollution caused by conventional and ecological free-range management of the animals, Dr. Sylvia Kratz, scientist at the Institute for Plant Nutrition and Soil Science at the Federal Research Center for Agriculture (FAL) in Braunschweig, examined a research project awarded by the Society of Friends of the FAL. In the case study, conventional intensive stable housing, conventional free-range housing and ecological free-range housing were compared. In the case of intensive housing with 22-24 animals per square meter, ie a total of 20.000-40.000 animals in one stable, the birds reach their final weight of 6 kg after around 1,8 weeks and have "only" produced about 5 kg of faeces. This occurs in a controlled and concentrated manner in the barn. The only problem that remains is that the sometimes very large quantities cannot simply be disposed of, but are to be applied to arable soils solely according to the rules of "good professional practice", ie, in accordance with the nitrogen and phosphorus requirements of agricultural crops.

If the animals are allowed to run outside in conventional operation, "only" 13 animals share one square meter, in a barn with around 6000-15000 conspecifics. But they also have a "right" to around 1 m2 per animal outdoors. That not only makes life more varied, but also a little longer. Despite the same mast end weight of 1,8 kg, the life is extended by a whole two weeks, which then also leaves more manure. An additional problem: In the run, the animals are mostly close to the barn, so that hardly more than 30% of the actual run-out area is used, with the result that there is questionable selective accumulation of nitrogen and phosphorus with a potential risk of contamination of ground and water Surface water comes.

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For the IFFA 2004, which takes place from May 15th to 20th in Frankfurt am Main, numerous innovatines were introduced, which specifically focus on the butcher's trade, which makes up the largest group of visitors.

The five "consumer worlds" within the framework of the IFFA-Delicat are a central component. Connected by an educational trail, the requirements for a modern butcher shop are vividly presented at several stations. For this purpose, based on the latest studies, the customer's perspective was deliberately chosen so that maximum practical relevance is guaranteed.

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Butchers' Association gives up the fight for designation

"Thüringer Leberwurst", "Thüringer Rotwurst" and "Thüringer Rostbratwurst" have now been registered as protected geographical indications (PGI) and are therefore protected throughout Europe. Therefore, the use of these, but also similar names such as "Thuringian Art" is only reserved for manufacturers from Thuringia.

The German Butchers' Association (DFV) has taken all legal and political action against the entry, as it is of the opinion that this regulation runs counter to any craftsmanship. Ultimately, however, one had to recognize that the continuation of the contradiction had no prospect of success.

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Anyone who is employed in the company of a close family member must expect the labor administration to classify them as a co-entrepreneur. The result is that in the event of unemployment or bankruptcy of the company, no money will be paid by the employment office. With the partial implementation of the Hartz Commission's proposals, the social security status of employment contracts concluded with family members after 1.1.2005 is checked and determined once and is then also binding for the labor administration.

However, the new regulation does not change anything in the uncertainty of the social security status of existing employment relationships of family members, in particular of master craftsmen. The DFV therefore recommends that if you have the slightest doubt about your social security status, you should have it checked voluntarily.

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Excellent quality specialist with close links between practice and science - successor to Prof. Dr. Ernst Reimerdes

The new chairman of the market and nutrition department of the German Agricultural Society (DLG) is Prof. Dr. Achim Stiebing, internationally recognized meat technologist and quality specialist at the Lippe and Höxter University of Applied Sciences in Lemgo. He has been appointed by the responsible main committee as part of the DLG winter conference in Berlin to succeed Prof. Dr. Ernst Reimerdes was elected. He held the chair for nine years and retired for reasons of age. DLG President Philip Freiherr von dem Bussche congratulated Prof. Stiebing on his election and wished him "a lucky hand in this important position for the DLG". At the same time he said goodbye to Prof. Reimerdes, whom he praised as an important advisor and guide in difficult times.

DLG President Philip Freiherr von dem Bussche (2nd from left) with Deputy Chairpersons Susanne Langguth and Prof Dr Ernst Reimerdes (left) and Prof Dr Achim Stiebing.

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