The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority has further results of analyses focused on melamine content in dangerous foodstuffs available. They are foodstuffs originating from China or other Asian countries and containing milk component of any form. However, presence of this chemical substance with exceeding limit was not detected in any of further 11 samples.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority banned production of delicatessen in manufacturing premises of Jiří Dušek in Vrdy u Čáslavi due to Listeria monocytogenes detection. The company in question is of local importance and distributes products only in close region.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority was notified through the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed that candies White Rabbit originating from China, in which limit exceeding amount of melamine had been detected earlier, were imported into the CR. Importer from the Netherlands had distributed these candies into 14 European countries far earlier than the European Commission established protective measures on the borders. Until now, the Dutch Authority for control of foodstuffs completed the list of all purchasers.

In response to the case of milk products contaminated by melamin that had appeared in China, already in September the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority began to focus its controls more on foodstuffs of Chinese origin containing a milk ingredient. Since that time the inspectors have been detecting if these foodstuffs cannot be found in common shops. At the same time more controls have been carried out in Asian market halls and shops specialised in Asian foodstuffs. So far about 350 controls have been carried out.

In connection with the case of Chinese milk which was proved to have been contaminated by the chemical substance melamin, on the 26 th September 2008 the European Commission decided to tighten up the measures that are aimed at protection of the European market from these dangerous foodstuffs.

It has been more than a year since consignments of the thickening agent E412 (guar gum) originating from India contaminated by pentachlorophenol and dioxins appeared on the European market. In connection with this incident, the European Commission tightened up the import of guar gum from India – each batch must be accompanied by an analytical report from an accredited laboratory proving that the product does not pose a threat to human health. The report is then reviewed and endorsed by a representative of the competent enforcement authority, which is, in the Czech Republic, the Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection (CAFIA).

Inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) suspended sale of one batch of dried apple rings from the company K-Servis Praha a. s. due to mouldy pieces and dead parasites detection in individual packages.

Infants and children up to the age of 3 years are considered to be a sensitive consumer group, thus food intended for them is subjected to specific requirements on safety, quality, and labelling. The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority pays high attention to checks of observance of these requirements. In this year, the Inspection Authority has already assessed 255 samples of baby snacks, food, and drinks. All sorts of snacks, food (vegetable based, meat-vegetable based, soups, etc.), and drinks sampled were both Czech and foreign origin. Also bio snacks sold in certain drugstores were assessed.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) recently found misleadingly labelled milk on the market which failed to comply with the information given on the labelling.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) forbade production of spirits in company LIHO Blanice Co., Ltd last week. This is due to laboratory analyses´ results which proved excessive amount of dangerous methanol in several samples from production of this company. As an extensive case is concerned, representatives of the Customs Office in Tábor were also invited to the control.