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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) has been inspecting commercial chain stores operating in the Czech Republic, during the last three pre-Christmas weekends. The inspectors carried out a total of 47 inspections in stores of fourteen business companies, concerning compliance with the Food Act; deficiencies were identified in nearly 60% of cases. Most of the deficiencies were, however, less serious and so they could not endanger consumers and could be addressed on the spot.

Poor quality of fresh fruit and vegetables and inadequate hygiene conditions of sale was the most frequent cause of breaching the legislation. In several cases, the inspectors also identified sale of food with expired shelf life, however, this mostly concerned a small number of products, probably left on the shelves. Another, rather isolated deficiency was sale of food in damaged packaging, non-separated sale of food with expired use-by date, non-compliance with temperature conditions for food storage or unlabelled food intended for disposal.

In some cases, the inspectors imposed remedial measures, in the case of more serious breach of legislation, the Food Inspection Authority will initiate administrative proceedings in which fine will be imposed.

In comparison with very serious findings the Food Inspection Authority has published in the past months, this inspection came out much better. In spite of this, consumers should be more cautious when buying food, mainly in these days preceding Christmas and New Year’s Day.