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In relation to the new responsibility, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) carried out a specialised inspection activity focused on quality and safety of scooped and soft serve ice creams, and fruit sorbets. The inspectors checked a total of 89 confectionary shops and fast food operators. The inspection confirmed violation of legislation in 41 premises (46%). Non-observance of hygiene and microbiological requirements, adulteration and labelling of allergens were concerned.

The inspectors verified 83 premises as regards hygiene practice. Violations were found in 21 cases (25%). Among others, poor conditions of production equipment, missing warm water supply, missing measures preventing the access of rodents, etc. were the most frequent deficiencies.

Adulteration consisting in partial substitution of milk fat by plant fat in ice creams labelled as milk, yogurt or creamy, etc. was proved at 10 out of 14 samples. In one case, the milk fat was substituted by 89% of plant fat. To the contrary, the premises met the requirements for content of cocoa in ice creams labelled as chocolate or cocoa ice cream.

Out of 40 samples of ice creams, 6 samples (15%) failed due to presence of enterobacteria in the amount exceeding the permitted limit, which implied failures in performance of hygiene process. At the premises concerned, CAFIA imposed a temporary ban on the production of ice creams, ordered sanitation and review of production process compliant to HACCP principles (e.g. inspection of observance of pasteurisation temperature, keeping the expiration date of sale, etc.). To the contrary, the analysis confirmed observance of criteria as regards listeria and salmonella at 30 samples.

Good news for consumers is that none of the 40 samples contained unauthorised dies or dies exceeding the maximum limits.

However, the situation is different as regards provision of information on allergenic substances. Out of 66 inspections, 18 operators completely or partly failed to comply with this new obligation (27%). The most significant violation in this area was detection of a non-declared allergen. Unintentional consumption of allergenic substance may cause serious health complication to a person suffering from an allergy. Out of 51 samples, the analysis confirmed presence of allergenic substances in 13 cases (thus in each fourth sample) while the consumer was not informed during the purchase. The most frequent cases concerned presence of milk protein in fruit ice creams, particularly in high concentrations up to 675 mg/kg. The analysis showed presence of non-declared allergenic substances in concentration exceeding the amount of 200 mg/kg in 8% of samples inspected for presence of pea nuts.

Non-compliant ice creams and sorbets taken in confectionary shops and fast foods are published on the Food Pillory website on regular basis including the place of sampling and further identification information. With regard to the results of this inspection activity, CAFIA will pay high attention to the inspection of observance of legal requirements related to this segment.

Article by: Pavel Kopřiva, CAFIA Spokesperson, phone:+420 542 426 633