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Food Inspection Authority banned sale of two tons of jams

08/11/2008
 

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority keeps making effort to reveal adulterated foodstuffs or cases of deceiving consumers. Both practices lead to the fact that foodstuffs pretending to be something they are not occur on the market and consumers have not many chances how to identify them. Based upon experience from previous controls, CAFIA focused its attention on control of jams and marmalades.

Legislation prescribes minimum weight fruit content in jams, marmalades, plum jams, and other processed fruits. For example jams must contain at least 35 grams of fruits in 100 grams and selected jams (labelled as “Extra“) must contain 45 grams of fruits. On the contrary, marmalades can be produced only from citrus fruits and must contain at least 20 grams of fruit content in 100 grams. If a producer indicates higher than minimum fruit content, this content must be kept. Similarly, it must be clear from the labelling that the product was made of more sorts of fruits. If the jam is named after one sort of fruits, e.g. “strawberry jam“, than it must not contain other fruits. Apples are mostly used for such adulteration.

Within a special action focused on control of jams, inspectors directly on the spot checked labelling, thus whether all mandatory information is included in it or whether it is not misleading. 14 samples of jams were taken for laboratory analyses, during which real content of fruit, sugar or content of other than declared fruits were checked. Analyses revealed 5 non-complying jams. Based upon these results, the Inspection Authority banned sale of almost 2 tons directly at importers. Another ton (1351 kg) had to be withdrawn from retails.

Administrative proceeding, in which the amount of the imposed fine will be determined,  will be initiated with all inspected persons.

Table: Overview of non-complying samples of jams

Name of the jam Batch Country of origin Importer Justification
Strawberry jam extra JACO gold, 450 g Best before 02/2010 Produced in Croatia for Norma Norma, k.s. Content of 65g of strawberries/100g was given on the labelling. The real content was 40g/100g. The minimum content prescribed for “extra“ jams is 45g/100g.  Presence of substances proving that other fruits than strawberries were used was further revealed .
Farmer´s Gift apricot jam, 20 g

Best before 06-09

batch L 01-08

 Greece PeMaP* s.r.o., Přerov Content of 35g of fruits/100g was given on the labelling. The real content was 18,7g/100g.
Farmer´s Gift strawberry jam, 20 g

Best before 06-09

batch L 01-08

 Greece PeMaP* s.r.o., Přerov Content of 35g of fruits/100g was given on the labelling. The real content was 23,8g/100g.
Blueberry jam Qually, 450 g

Best before 10.02.2009

batch 222/H7/2200

 Poland PeMaP s.r.o., Přerov Presence of substances proving that other fruits than blueberries were used for production of blueberry jam. Information about best before date should have been on the cover, however, it was given on the jar in black letters. It was not readable due to the dark content  of the jar.
Vitaminka rosehip jam, 430 g

Best before 07.03.2010  

Best before 05.11.2010

 Bosnia and Herzegovina Importer LASKA DALBOSS spol. s r.o., Praha Name “Rosehip jam“ was given on the labelling, however, name “Rosehip and apple puree“ was given in the ingredients.  Content of 7g of sugar/100g was given on the labelling, however, analysis of batch with best before 07.03.2010 proved 69g of sugar/100g.

* These jams were distributed only to the public catering sector.


Author: Mgr. Martina Šmídtová - CAFIA spokesperson, phone : +420-542426633