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Inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) focus, in these hot days, on the inspection of risk foodstuffs, i.e. highly perishable foodstuffs. These include in particular meat and milk products, poultry and fish products, delicatessen and confectionery products. Food goes bad more quickly at high temperatures. Microorganisms that can cause foodborne illnesses multiply rapidly in hot and humid environment; therefore food is literally a breeding ground for them.

The inspectors also focus on the inspection of temperaturestorage conditions both at producers and sellers. Their responsibility is to maintain cold chain when handling foodstuffs. Foodstuffs must not be exposed to higher temperatures on their way to consumers than specified by their producer. The minimum temperature at which frozen foodstuffs must be kept was determined at -18°C. In such conditions, frozen foodstuffs must be stored in freezers. The Inspection Authority also recommends consumers follow these rules at home.

Generally, greater caution is needed in the summer period when buying and handling foodstuffs. CAFIA experts therefore recommend following several basic rules:

• Buy only such amount of foodstuffs you can consume before their shelf-life expires and for which you have enough room in the fridge. Expired shelf-life foodstuffs must not be sold and should not be eaten. The shelf-life is always specified on the packaging behind the words “To be used by…”
• Bring foodstuffs homeas quickly as possible and consume them immediately or store them as recommended by producer on the packaging. Long journeys in heat up car do not suit foodstuffs. 
• Do not buy foodstuffs that are not stored under prescribed conditions in the shop – in freezers.
• Buy frozen foodstuffs only in frozen stateand undamaged packaging directly from the freezer. Use cooler bags to transport frozen foodstuffs and put them immediately in the freezer. Do not refreeze thawed foodstuffs.

From the beginning of May to 20th July, the CAFIA inspectors took 176 samples of which 10 failed to comply with microbiological limits. Even though consumers are not in serious danger, caution in exceptionally hot weather is advisable.