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2. INSPECTIONS

2.6 Thematic and extraordinary inspections

Thematically targeted inspections are usually inspections of a bigger scope focusing on a certain, pre-defined topic. They are managed centrally by means of a uniform methodical guideline. Their objective is to contribute to dealing with wider and more complex issues of some food safety and quality areas. They take place on a nationwide basis or in some targeted regions.

Below see some thematic inspections conducted in 2003. This is not an entire list of all thematic inspections in the given period. In this chapter we intend to illustrate and outline the CAFIA activities on some specific examples.

Inspection of orange juice authenticity

The objective of the inspection was to check whether orange juices marketed in the Czech Republic did not have lower content of a fruit ingredient, whether they did not have undeclared addition of sugar, or whether they were not adulterated in another way.

In the framework of the nationwide inspection a total of 26 fruit juice samples were assessed: 18 Czech and 8 imported products. The results of the inspection showed that the quality of juices in the Czech market had improved significantly compared to the previous years. Out of the total number of 26 assessed products 2 discount products were evaluated as unsatisfactory due to the lower content of the fruit ingredient.

The priority of the inspection of the orange juice authenticity was to protect the interests of the consumer. However, the CAFIA inspection activities in this area were also supposed to perform the role of independent supervision over the self-control system of fruit juice producers which commenced its operation on 1/1/2003 under the auspices of the regional SGF association (Schutzgemeinschaft der Fruchtsaft Industrie); its main objective is to preclude unfair competition and uneven conditions in the market.

Inspection of the labelling of selected meat products

Legal regulations have specified requirements for basic ingredients, sensory requirements, and physical and chemical properties of selected meat products (for example the products named “špekáčky”, “lovecký” salami, vysočina “salami”, “dunajská” sausage, “ostravská” sausage”); these requirements have to be met if the product is to be named by the above titles. The objective of the inspection was to find out whether these requirements are complied with.

In the framework of the inspections 1162 meat products from 105 producers were evaluated to check the compliance with the sensory requirements. From this amount 46 samples were assessed as unsatisfactory.

156 samples of meat products were evaluated to check whether they complied with the requirements for ingredients and physical and chemical properties; 14 samples were found unsatisfactory. In 5 cases the deficiency found was due to a lower content of net muscle protein (in ham); in 1 case starch was found in ham and in 8 cases the presence of poultry protein was detected in products where it was not allowed by the Code of Practice.

The outcome of the inspection showed that a significant majority of foodstuffs inspected met the requirements in terms of the properties evaluated both in laboratory and sensory tests.

Inspections of adulteration and antibiotics residues in honey

The objective of the inspection was to find out whether syrups based on starch, saccharose, cane or sweet corn were added to honeys sold in a retail network, and whether these honeys contained antibiotics residues. One of the reasons for this inspection was the fact that the adulteration of honey is a worldwide issue that often comes to the surface both in the EU countries and in the Czech Republic. The honeys from Czech producers and imported honeys were subjected to the inspection.

The total of 23 samples of honey were collected. Out of this, 11 samples did not comply, which represented 47.8%. The laboratory analyses detected the following deficiencies:

• In 4 samples a higher content of hydroxymethylfulfuraldehyde was found;
• In 4 samples different electrolytic conductivity was ascertained than the limit value for the declared type of honey designated on the label by the producer;
• In 1 sample higher concentration of apparent saccharose was proven;
• In 5 samples the presence of antibiotics residues was proven; 
• In 1 sample the presence of sulphonamides was proven.

No adulteration of honey by adding starch syrup, cane sugar or sweet corn sugar was proven in any of the cases.

The outcome of the inspection confirmed the suspicion that honeys containing impermissible amounts of antibiotics residues and sulphonamides were marketed. The cases covered mainly included honeys for the production of which raw material of foreign origin had been used. Due to the results acquired the CAFIA will keep seeing to the area of inspecting marketed honey with higher intensity.

Microbiological inspection of heat treated sea-fish and shellfish

The inspection was organized following the recommendation of the EC Commission. Its objective was to check safety of heat treated sea-fish and shellfish and acquire information on possible occurrence of pathogenic and indicator microorganisms in this type of products.

Microbiological analyses focused on the determination of the number of coliform bacteria, number of Staphylococcus aureus, total number of microorganisms, and demonstrating the bacteria of the Salmonella genus. Based on the EC Commission recommendation demonstration of pathogenic bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus was also included in the analyses of this type of products. The inspections were aimed at retail shops.

During the inspection a total of 14 samples of heat treated sea-fish and shellfish for direct consumption was checked: shells, octopus, anchovies and sea-food cocktails or salads.

Out of the total number of 14 samples 4 samples did not comply with microbiological requirements due to the exceeded tolerable values set for the total number of microorganisms. None of the samples, however, exceeded the maximum limits, which means that no product was ranked as unsafe.

Inspections of the authenticity of varieties, uniformity and quality of potatoes

The inspections of the authenticity of varieties and uniformity focused on potatoes harvested in spring, both imported and grown in the Czech Republic.

The results of the inspections documented a number of interesting facts:

1. The percentage of imported unsatisfactory potatoes - 21.1% - in 2003 was so far the lowest for the whole period the CAFIA had conducted this inspection. In 2001 this figure had reached the total of 38.9% of imported unsatisfactory new potatoes, and in 2002 the total of 33.7% of imported unsatisfactory new potatoes.
2. Up to now the Czech-grown new potatoes had been only inspected once, in 2002, for the authenticity of varieties and uniformity. At that time 20 samples had been checked and only 2 samples had been found unsatisfactory, i.e. 10.0%. During the latest inspection only 4.9% of batches failed to comply even though the higher number of batches - the total of 41 - was checked.
3. For the period of time the CAFIA has inspected the authenticity of varieties and uniformity, not a single unsatisfactory batch has been found directly with the Czech producer.

Based on these results it can be stated that the extremely unsatisfactory condition of imported new potatoes is gradually improving. The penalties imposed have matched the ascertained seriousness and scope of the illegal conduct; the fact that some inspected entities breached the regulations repeatedly was also often taken into account. It is therefore possible to refuse the opinions that remedy is impossible and that the penalties imposed do not bring the required effect.

This year’s improvement of the condition of imported potatoes was probably significantly contributed by the facts that the import from Italy was limited and that the quality of Spanish potatoes, which were inspected most often, was relatively good.

It is necessary to emphasize a continuously very good quality of Czech consumer potatoes. This fact will probably be very important from the point of view of a coming accession of the Czech Republic to the EU. The import of low quality potatoes from other member countries would probably affect Czech producers and certainly impact consumers. The outcome of this inspection can be therefore considered as a reason why this checking should continue after the accession of the CR to the EU.

Apart from the above inspection of the authenticity of varieties and uniformity of potatoes a more extensive inspection of potato quality was also conducted. During this inspection a total of 475 batches of consumer potatoes were checked; out of this number a total of 471 batches were late consumer potatoes and 4 batches new consumer potatoes. The total of 83 inspected batches, i.e. 17.5%, failed to comply with the requirements of legal regulations.

Apart from other ones, 4 batches of inspected new consumer potatoes of the Israeli provenance failed to comply. In these Israeli potatoes it was ascertained that tubers had an entirely ripened skin - even in the crown part of the tuber, which did not comply with the declaration of the new consumer potatoes.

As to the consumer potatoes of the Czech origin, a total of 361 batches were inspected, out of which 63 batches, i.e. 17.5%, failed to comply with the set requirements. 

The total of 114 batches of imported consumer potatoes were inspected; out of them 20 batches were found unsatisfactory, i.e. 17.5% of the batches inspected. The majority of the inspected imported batches came from German and Dutch provenances. These potatoes also had the lowest quality as compared to the Czech potatoes and potatoes from other countries.

Demonstration of gluten in foodstuffs

The purpose of the inspections was to check food safety, disclosure of possible consumer deception and mapping of the content of gluten in foodstuffs in relation to the indication of notices informing of health hazards for people with metabolism disorders resulting from the presence of gluten in foodstuffs that contain gluten but the consumer cannot anticipate its presence. To effectively conduct these inspections the CAFIA took advantage of the cooperation with a number of unincorporated associations dealing with celiac diseases (for example the Association of Celiac Patients of the Czech Republic, or the Brno ‘Celiakie’ Club) whose views were considered during the selection of commodities analysed.

The total of 42 samples of foodstuffs were inspected that represented various commodities (for example pasta; dehydrated products and flavouring agents; custard; yoghurt; soya products; confectionery products); 35 Czech and 7 foreign products were represented.

The content of gliadin ranged from < 1 mg/100 g of dry matter up to 5.7 g/100 g of dry matter. In none of the products inspected the content of gliadin exceeding the value of 10 mg/100 g of dry matter was found. All analysed samples thus complied with the requirements of legal regulations concerning the obligation to indicate the information of the presence of gluten in foodstuffs where its presence is not anticipated; the failure to include this information could pose a health hazard for people suffering from celiac diseases.  

The inspection also focused on mapping the content of gliadin in 5 samples of beer. In all cases the detected content of gliadin was lower than 4 mg/100 ml of the beverage.

Inspection of microbiological standards of selected groups of mill and grain products

The inspection was conducted in the framework of the planned microbiological inspection. It focused on microbiological standards of predetermined mill and grain products: muesli, flakes, millet, buckwheat and cereals for direct consumption.
The objective of the inspection was to find out whether the technological processes used ensure the production of foodstuffs that comply with applicable requirements of legal regulations from the point of view of microbiology. The consumers eat some of the above foodstuffs raw or after minimal heat processing.

In the framework of the inspection a total of 34 samples of cereal products were collected. The samples inspected represented batches of 7270 kg of the total weight. All samples were analyzed in the CAFIA laboratories and the limits (maximum limits or tolerable limits) for the following microorganisms were monitored: Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, total number of microorganisms, Salmonella, coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, and moulds. All samples complied with the requirements for both the maximum limits and the tolerable limits.

Inspection of bakery and confectionery products labelled as ‘produced with butter’

The inspections focused on whether the information enclosed with selected bakery and confectionery products stating ‘produced with butter’ in the title of the foodstuff or in the title of the group of foodstuffs was indicated correctly according to their respective recipes. In other words, whether the consumer was not deceived by the producer using another, cheaper fat instead of butter.

The inspection was carried out at the production facilities of bakery and confectionery products and in retail outlets of such products; the inspection at the retail outlets was mainly conducted in cases of unpacked foodstuffs.

The inspectors particularly based their observations on checking the documentation (recipes, critical point system, warehouse and production records, documentation from the suppliers of ingredients, documentation for customers, delivery notes, etc.).

Out of the total number of 84 inspected samples designated as ‘produced with butter’ 6 samples failed to comply, which represented 7.1% of the inspected number. 10 samples of bakery products were inspected, and they all complied. 74 samples of confectionery products were inspected and out of this number, 6 samples failed to comply with the title indicating ‘produced with butter’.

The inspection showed that the standard of labelling bakery products as ‘produced with butter’ and confectionery products designated as “with butter filling” or “with light butter filling” is relatively high.

Inspections of the labelling of phosphate-free detergents and soap products

The objective of the inspection was to verify the information declared and to check the completeness of the labelling of detergents and soap products. A further objective was to acquire an overall view of the state of such products.

The total of 17 samples for laboratory testing and verifying the ‘phosphate-free’ declaration were collected in the framework of this inspection, out of them there were 13 Czech products and 4 imported products. The analysis for detecting phosphate was carried out on all these samples; all 17 samples complied with the “phosphate-free” declaration. Furthermore, the declared weight/volume of the 17 samples was checked; 4 samples out of the 17 failed to comply, which represented 23.5%. The inspection of labelling was conducted on 69 samples at the point of inspection. Labelling deficiencies were found in 6 imported products, which represented 8.7%. In all these 6 cases the information in the Czech language was missing.