• Entrepreneurs
• Business information
• Certification
• CAFIA laboratories
• CAFIA opinions
• More information
• Consumers
• How to know the food market
• Results of CAFIA inspections
• Consumer rights
• List of risky sites
• Hoaxes
• Other visitors
• Press Releases
• Internships at CAFIA
• Public contracts

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) carried out a targeted inspection activity focused on foodstuffs referring (in its name or labelling) to presence of wasabi. The aim was to verify whether the checked foodstuffs really contain the Japanese variety wasabi (Wasabia japonica) or whether consumers are misled by its replacement by another cheaper variety of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana).

CAFIA sampled the total of 57 samples at producers, suppliers and in retail network, out of which 34 samples failed, i.e. almost 60%. The foodstuffs below referred to wasabi content in their names or on the labelling, however presence of Wasabia japonica was not included in the list of ingredients while Armoracia rusticana was stated:

• Aksam ARAŠÍDY Beskydské wasabi, CZ wasabi, peanuts in batter with wasabi flavour, producer: AKSAM Spólka z o.o. Sp. K. Osiek, ul. Karolina 70, 32-608 Osiek, Poland. Company Food a Beauty World spol. s r.o., Černá cesta 919/3, 73535 Horní Suchá was the inspected person in case of 24 persons, 3 lots were checked at operator Perfect Store s.r.o., Janovice 423, 73911 Janovice and 1 lot was detected at inspected person Patrik Hlobil, Těšínská 1508, 73934 Šenov;
• Rois CRISPY COATED PEANUTS WASABI. Peanuts in batter, Wasabi, inspected person: GEMINI DD s.r.o., Sabinova 153/4, 72100 Ostrava – Svinov, supplier: GEMINI DD s.r.o., Ostrava;
• 2 lots of Wasabi powder1 kg, inspected person: Mgr. Hana Zimulová (importer: www.levnesushi.cz), supplier: ARCTICA IMPORT - EXPORT GmbH & CO.KG, A. Baumgartnerstr. 44/A1/01/5, 1230 Wien;
• Wasabi Powder (KŘEN SUŠENÝ MLETÝ 1 kg – dried ground horseradish), inspected person: LIU SHI HONG FA s.r.o., Kolbenova 890/7a, 19000 Prague.

Ban on placing the foodstuffs on the market was imposed in all cases.

Wasabia japonica and Armoracia rusticana are plants both belonging to the brassicaceous family, however, they are of two various genera. Thus it is not possible to substitute these two plants and a product made from Armoracia, even if coloured and flavoured e.g. by mustard seeds, cannot be labelled as wasabi.

As regards the remaining non-compliant samples, information on wasabi was correct, however, other deficiencies related to labelling were detected (e.g. incorrect best before date, incorrect information on additives, missing name, trade name and address of the food business operator, etc.).

CAFIA will initiate an administrative procedure on imposition of a fine with the inspected persons.

Article by: Mgr. Radoslav Pospíchal – Media Communication Officer, phone: +420 542 426 613