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The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) pays an intensive attention to distant sale of foodstuffs by means of Internet shops in particular as this way of food purchasing is more and more popular. During these inspections, CAFIA focuses on specific risks related to distant sale.

CAFIA currently carried out an inspection activity aimed at compliance with the so-called temperature chain for chilled foodstuffs purchased on the Internet. Within this activity, CAFIA inspectors sampled a total of 15 chilled food products purchased from 9 operators on the Internet under a hiden identity. The inspection confirmed that all sellers ensured appropriate conditions for the distribution of chilled foodstuffs and complied with the conditions laid down by the Act on Foodstuffs No. 110/1997 Coll. The temperatures of the foodstuffs at the time of delivery were kept as they were stated by the producers on the labelling.

Summary of all evaluated samples, including the place of sampling, was released on the Food Pillory in its section Thematic inspections.

If a retailer offers the option to purchase chilled food remotely with delivery of the food 'to the door', the temperature storage conditions stated by the producer on the food labelling have to be kept throughout the distribution period until the foodstuff is handed over to the consumer. Violating this requirement the seller would risk that the customer could consume unsafe food. If a chilled or frozen foodstuff is exposed to a temperature higher than the required temperature, bacterial colonies may develop and this risk cannot be eliminated even by re-chilling or re-freezing.

Consumers purchasing foodstuffs on the Internet have the same rights as consumers purchasing in bricks and mortar shops.

Given the continued growth in the popularity of online food sales, CAFIA will continue with inspections of this segment with the same intensity.

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

25^th October 2022