• Entrepreneurs
• Business information
• Certification
• CAFIA laboratories
• CAFIA opinions
• More information
• Consumers
• How to know the food market
• Results of CAFIA inspections
• Consumer rights
• List of risky sites
• Hoaxes
• Other visitors
• Press Releases
• Internships at CAFIA
• Public contracts

Microbiological Requirements

The highest numbers of non-conforming samples detected by microbiological analyses came from the samples of delicatessen products and confectionery products. The above were commodities including a large proportion of difficult-to-keep and highly perishable foodstuffs, which were considered risky from the epidemiological point of view. Increased attention was therefore paid to these foodstuffs throughout the year and even more in summer, when conditions became optimal for the undesirable growth of microorganisms.

Relatively high numbers of microbiologically non-conforming samples also occurred in the area of fresh vegetables and fresh fruit. The defects found particularly involved produce affected by undesirable changes caused by microbial activity (rotting, moulds). On a smaller scale, similar defects were also detected in some other types of food, for example, meat products (moulds on surfaces of smoked-meat products). 

Foreign Substances

When checking for foreign substances, the highest numbers of non-conforming samples were found in the area of grape wine, spirits, processed fruit and vegetables, fresh vegetables, soft drinks, and some other commodities.

In terms of grape wine, the problem particularly involved the presence of synthetic dyes, preservation substances, and excessive amounts of sulphur dioxide. With spirits, food safety requirements were particularly breached by the presence of chemicals such as acetaldehyde, benzene, and ethylbenzene (in domestic rum); and xylene, toluene, and styrene (in domestic rum and vodka). The defective products predominantly came from the spirits sold in market stalls. With some spirit samples, a presence of inadmissible colouring dyes was detected; other findings included an amount of urethane exceeding admissible limits ('slivovitz' - plum brandy), and an amount of phthalates exceeding admissible limits in various types of spirits.

Foreign substances, inadmissible colouring dyes in particular, were also detected in processed fruit and vegetables, mainly in dried fruit, and on a smaller scale in jams and compotes. The presence of inadmissible preservatives or an excessive amount of approved preservatives was also relatively common, particularly in dried fruit and vegetables, and in jams and ketchups. Some other defects found were as follows: an amount of lead and tin exceeding admissible limits in canned stewed fruit; an excessive amount of nitrates in dried vegetables; and the presence of Procymidone, a pesticide, in baby food.

The most frequent defect found in fresh vegetables was nitrates exceeding the admissible limits, particularly in leaf vegetables and other vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, etc. This defect more frequently occurred in imported lots than in domestic ones. In one case, an excessive amount of cadmium was found in root vegetables. Some samples taken from lots of vegetables (pepper and aubergine) of foreign origin contained inadmissible pesticide residues, mainly Procymidone, Endosulphane, and Malathione. One sample (imported forced radishes) contained inadmissible Chlorothalonile.

A relatively high number of unsatisfactory samples occurred in the area of soft drinks. The problems found primarily involved an excessive amount of preservatives (sorbic acid and benzoic acid), or these substances not being listed on the label. In several cases, the presence of inadmissible additional substances was detected (such as synthetic dyes, or cyclamates).

When checking dehydrated products, the presence of inadmissible additional substances was detected, such as synthetic dyes, particularly in instant noodle soups produced in Asia, as well as the presence of preservatives (sulphur dioxide and benzoic acid) in instant soups. An excessive amount of preservatives also occurred (particularly with flavourings).

The CAFIA repeatedly found an increased concentration of a biogenic amine, tyramine, in maturing cheeses; inadmissible preservatives (benzoic acid and sorbic acid) also repeatedly occurred in some types of delicatessen salads.

Analytical Requirements

When checking analytical requirements, most of the defects were detected in grape wine, particularly in the following areas: volatile acid content; alcohol content; content of sugar-free extract; and sugar content. With wines containing carbon dioxide, 30% of the samples analysed did not comply with the pressure requirements.

The following defects were found with spirits and alcoholic beverages: non-compliance with the positive or negative variance stipulated for the content of ethanol; the presence of high-molecular-weight alcohols (particularly in alcoholic beverages sold in market stalls) and tertiary butyl alcohol (again, mainly with vodka and domestic rum sold in market stalls); and non-compliance with the volume shown on the label.

The most frequent analytical defects detected in meat and meat products were as follows: higher content of fat than claimed by the producer and higher water activity in long-life meat products than permitted by the Code of Practice.

Defects detected in potatoes were primarily an inadmissible portion of green, damaged, sprouted, soiled, infirm, or scabrous potatoes, etc.

A frequent analytical defect in diary products was the detection of a different quantity of dry matter, or fat, or fat in dry matter, than claimed on the product label (for example, with cheeses).