Rotten meat, chemically colored tuna, fake powdered milk, poisoned yogurt or noodles with borax and formalin are some of the many products seized as part of Europol's latest investigation into the presence of counterfeit and substandard food and drink products on the market in Europe. A total of 749 people have been arrested, and investigations are continuing.
According to Europol and Interpol data, during the four months from December 2017 to March this year, more than 67 tons and 3.620 million liters of counterfeit or substandard food and beverages were seized in 9,7 countries, which is the result of more than 41.000 checks carried out in shops, airports, seaports or factories. The value of these goods is estimated at 55 million euros.
Belgium closed its main meat processing plant and supermarkets pulled meat products from the shelves after the rotten meat scandal. The accused company's license to operate was revoked, as checks showed a potential health risk in ground beef samples. During the inspection, parts of meat waste and pieces of carcasses used for feeding animals were found in the meat intended for human consumption, reports Politika.
Four people were arrested in Spain, and the police closed down a factory that packed counterfeit baby milk destined for China. Eight tons of fake powdered milk were confiscated. The powder, which was found to have been bought in Poland for one euro per kilogram and shipped to Barcelona, was not harmful, but lacked nutrients that infants need. Also, this dangerous fake baby food is made in conditions that do not comply with health care and food safety standards.
Major failures and frauds were discovered in the production of tuna. It was established that the traders were selling tuna intended for canning as fresh, which had previously been illegally treated with chemical substances. This procedure changed the color of the fish, in order to create the impression that it is fresh tuna. More than 51 tons of fish were taken.
Interpol says that 50 criminal networks involved in food fraud have been discovered. Illegal pesticides, methanol in alcoholic beverages, expired products and unhygienic storage conditions are just some of the irregularities found. Thus, the police in Indonesia seized large quantities of illegal alcohol, as more than 60 people died from drinking the local drink. The sale of two and a half tons of noodles with formalin was also prevented.
In Jordan, 90 tons of flour was seized, which was contaminated due to poor storage. In Bulgaria, pork infected with the parasitic disease trichinosis was confiscated, as a result of which 12 people fell ill, reports Politika.
Vietnamese authorities have seized as much as a ton and a half of monosodium glutamate, a highly toxic additive used as a flavor enhancer in many commercial food products that would be completely tasteless without the addition of this dangerous chemical. Also found were ten tons of noodles that contained borax, and nearly seven tons of bamboo that had been soaked in unidentified chemicals to make it look like it had just been harvested.
In Sudan, illegal substances have even been found in yogurt, tomato sauce and cooking oil. In Russia, government officials shut down 48 underground factories. More than 1,6 million liters of illegally produced alcohol were confiscated and criminal proceedings were initiated against 282 people. On that occasion, smuggled tobacco products worth around seven million euros were also found.
Organized crime groups involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit food and beverages often use the same networks for other types of crime. In Rwanda, Sudan and Tanzania, thousands of packages of counterfeit or expired medicines were seized.
"This phenomenon is a threat that requires cooperation across borders, taking into account the integration and globalization of supply chains. All countries are faced with this danger and it is the duty of law enforcement institutions to make sure that what consumers get on their plates is safe for health" , said Jari Liuku, head of the European Center for Actions against Organized Crime.
The unraveling of 50 criminal networks involved in the production of counterfeit food and drink is an important result in preventing potentially deadly products from entering the market, added Daoming Zang, head of Interpol's illicit markets unit.
"The volume of counterfeit products indicates that care is necessary when purchasing groceries," warns Zhang.
This investigation is carried out by Europol and Interpol, and in addition to partners from the private sector, it is supported by customs, police and national regulatory bodies whose job is food control. Since its establishment in 2011, the number of countries participating in the so-called OPSON operation has grown every year, which is a reflection of the increasing commitment to solving this problem.
"Refreshing" of meat from refrigerators
In April, in Belgium, the prosecution inspected the premises of the "Veviba" meat processing factory in Bastogne unannounced. Research was primarily focused on refrigerators. The Food Agency discovered old, long-frozen meat, which became fresh by falsifying the freezing date.
During an inspection at the cutting plant, it was discovered that meat not intended for human consumption was being sold, either as scraps or as ground beef. It was even in contact with a knife that is used to cut the throats of cows and may contain microbes, which is why it may only be used for feeding animals, reports Politika.
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