Food for special dietary use

Food for special dietary use is referred to in EU documents as one of the control priorities. They are mainly foodstuffs specified for persons with special nutritive demands, such as food suitable for persons with diabetes and phenylketonuria; food used in gluten free diets; food for sportsmen or persons with higher nutritive demands; products for weight reduction, and last but not least vitamin and mineral preparations offered in the form of tablets or capsules, etc.

CAFIA pays constantly increased attention to such a group of foodstuffs. Among the most frequently controlled non-conformances in food for special dietary use in 1999 were the following: release into circulation without an approval of the Ministry of Health, misleading labelling and non-compliance with the microbiologic requirements in some cases.

In the controlled period bans were imposed on such food in the value of CZK 14,142,875.

Grape wines from the casks in Prague

Suggestion for this control arose from results of inspections carried out in the past and a growing number of places selling grape wines from the casks in Prague. The objective was to ensure observance of requirements for safety, quality and labelling. Inspections were carried out in shops, wine bars and open-air-stands in November 2 - 4, 1999.

The CAFIA inspectors analysed 95 samples of grape wines from 22 sellers, while 90 samples (this is 94.7 %) did not comply with legal regulations.

Observance of requirements for safety was controlled in 80 samples, of which 17 did not comply. It was due to a limit exceeding content of sulphur dioxide, occurrence of sorbic acid and use of synthetic dyes, especially in red wine.

Labelling was controlled in 91 samples, of which 76 did not comply.

In controlling the chemical and physical requirements 84 samples were analysed, of which 35 did not comply. It was mostly due to the contents of alcohol exceeding the set limit and due to non-corresponding contents of sugar.

Sensorial evaluation was carried out in 79 samples, of which 55 did not meet requirements for quality.

In the course of inspections, prohibition of sale was imposed on 12,878 litres of non-complying grape wines in the value of CZK 556,000.

Fresh mushrooms cultivated as well as growing freely in the nature

The objective of control was to verify whether requirements for labelling, storing, and safety are observed in releasing fresh mushrooms into circulation and whether persons specified own a prescribed certificate on the basic knowledge about mushrooms.

The inspection focused on the producers of cultivated mushrooms, wholesale warehouses, retail chains and sellers in market places. It took place in August - October 1999.

Altogether 87 samples of mushrooms were analysed. 33 samples did not comply with legal regulations, which is 37.9 %. Mainly the following drawbacks were detected: incorrect labelling, release into circulation after expiry of date of use, limit exceeding content of cadmium (in 6 samples), wrong storage temperature and missing certificate on the basic knowledge about mushrooms. The highest number of drawbacks was detected in retail shops.

Kiwi

The inspection was carried out on the basis of suggestions from mass media and information that inspectors achieved about the sale of kiwi, which did not meet the set quality requirements.

Objective of this inspection was to find out how the business persons inspected observe requirements for quality and safety in releasing kiwi into circulation, and if necessary to remedy the matter.

The inspection was carried out in February - March 1999 in co-operation with the Customs General Directorate that provided information on imports.

The inspection focused on kiwi importers, wholesale firms and supermarkets in all regions of the CR.

In total 232 samples of kiwi were analysed, which represented the quantity of 52,230 KG. 96 samples did not comply (it is 41.4%), which represented the quantity of 23,630 KG (it is 45.2 % of the weight). The most frequently occurring reasons were these: the non-observed weight of individual piece of kiwi, moulds and doubled fruits. Analyses of pesticide residua did not prove any MRL exceeding values.

Bans were imposed on the non-complying products in the total value of CZK 725,000.

Challenging results

• most of the batches of kiwi that did not comply were from Italy,
• most of the non-complying lots due to non-observance of weight were packed in bags.

Soya products

Objective of this inspection was to find out how the inspected persons observe requirements for quality, safety ad labelling of Soya products and, if necessary, to remedy the matter. It took place in June 1 - 25, 1999.

Altogether 42 samples of Soya products were analysed. Of which 22 samples did not comply (it is 52.4 %) due to infringement of microbiologic requirements (exceeded tolerated values of the total number of microorganisms and coliform bacteria), and due to incorrect or false labelling (e.g. the declared contents of proteins and fats were not observed). The contents of dairy products, without declaring their occurrence on the label, were not detected.

Bans on non-complying products in the value of CZK 66,000 were imposed.