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The summer period is exceptionally favourable to growth and reproduction of various microorganisms, not only the “good” ones, but also undesirable and pathogenic microorganisms that can cause health problems if affected foodstuffs are consumed. Foodstuffs are the most often affected by yeasts, coliforms, and anearobic mesophile microorganisms that can cause stomach disorders or flatulence. There are still cases where Salmonella, Listeria or Campylobacter, which belong to pathogens and cause foodborne illnesses, occur, although such cases are rather rare.

Therefore, inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) focus much more on the check of compliance with hygiene and storage conditions and the sampling for microbiological examination in the summer period. However, consumers themselves can protect themselves from possible troubles by paying attention to what foodstuffs they buy, where they buy them, and how they handle them at home.

It is therefore advisable to take notice of the tidiness of the shop, not only how clean it is or how clean are its display cases, but also whether the staff keep tidiness, whether their clothing and hands are clean, and whether they use gloves or serving equipment when selling unpackaged food. Mainly in the period of higher temperatures, it is important to take notice whether refrigerators and freezers really refrigerate or freeze, whether milk products and chilled or frozen products are not left outside the relevant refrigerator, or whether meat and meat products are stored separately from other foodstuffs. All this can play an important role in reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and thus also in food safety.

Furthermore, CAFIA experts do not recommend buying cracked eggs, swollen chilled foodstuffs and cans, even if they were “bargains”, they recommend avoiding foodstuffs with damaged and deformed packaging or vacuum packaging that does not fit tightly, and do not recommend buying visibly mouldy or even rotting food. The inspectors also warn against cut out fruit and vegetables, because some moulds produce dangerous mycotoxines that cannot be eliminated by removing only visibly affected parts of the fruit. Moreover, the Act on foodstuffs prohibits selling so called "cut outs". It is always important to pay attention to the use-by date that is stated on perishable foodstuffs, usually in words: To be used by….. When this date expires, the foodstuff must not be sold and it should not be consumed either.

It is obvious that consumers should follow similar principles at home and they should also do regular detailed stocktaking in their refrigerators, freezers, and pantries.

Only in this year’s June and July, the CAFIA inspectors took 1005 samples of foodstuffs for microbiological analysis. 105 samples (16%) did not comply with regulations. Salmonella was identified in 6 cases, Listeria in 2 cases. The non-complying products were mostly desserts and cakes, meat products and salads. All products were banned from placing on the market.