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Within its regular inspection activities, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) checked safety and quality of frying oils which operators of restaurants and fast foods use for preparation of meals. Oils in fryers were evaluated as unsuitable for human consumption in every sixth premises.

CAFIA inspectors assessed the condition of oils and frying equipment in the total of 82 premises providing public catering and assessed 98 of frying oils.

At 16% of checked premises, the inspectors detected use of so-called burnt oil and evaluated it as a foodstuff unsuitable for human consumption or for preparation of meals. Assessment of the samples was carried out on the basis of sensory assessment – smell, taste, colour, presence of carbonized residues, etc. and also on the basis of measurement of the content of so-called total polar materials (TPM) and further by laboratory determination of polymer triacylglycerols (PTG) in the CAFIA laboratory in Prague. In case of certain samples, the laboratory confirmed multiple exceeding of acceptable values of the thermic decay (TPM and PTG) in the assessed oils.

Keeping good frying practice was a constituent of the inspection as well as hygiene requirements for fryers. In case 10% of checked premises, the inspectors detected contamination of the frying equipment with solid oily impurities due to neglecting of regular cleaning of this equipment.

Burnt frying oils contain substances which are harmful to human health, however, professional literature mentions, inter alia, possible carcinogenic effects as well.

The inspected persons that violated legislation were imposed to remove the non-compliant detections, and CAFIA will initiate an administrative procedure on imposition of a fine with them.

Summary of all checked entities together with the assessment is available on the Food Pillory in Section Thematic Inspections.

Compared to the inspections carried out in previous years, results have slightly improved – in 2018 our inspectors found non-compliant frying oil at 26% of inspected premises. However, the situation in general cannot be regarded as satisfactory and CAFIA will therefore continue with inspections of frying oils at the premises of public catering.

Article by: Mgr. Pavel Kopřiva – CAFIA Spokesperson, phone: +420 542 426 633   

27^th February 2020