Wed Sep 18 04:03:00 UTC 2024: ## Food Safety Alerts and Fraud Investigations Surge in Europe

**Brussels, [Date]** – The number of food safety alerts and fraud investigations exchanged between European member states skyrocketed in 2023, according to the European Commission. This significant increase highlights a growing concern over food safety and integrity across the continent.

The Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN), which encompasses several specialized networks including the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), saw a substantial rise in notifications compared to 2022.

**RASFF notifications spiked by 8% to 4,695**, with almost 4,200 concerning food. Turkey, China, Poland, India, the Netherlands, and France were the primary sources of these alerts.

**Pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables remained a major concern**, particularly from Turkey, Egypt, and India. The most common pesticides identified were chlorpyrifos, acetamiprid, ethylene oxide, and 2-chloroethanol.

**Salmonella outbreaks in poultry products from Poland were also a significant concern**, with over 150 notifications issued. Aflatoxins in nuts and seeds from the United States were another major issue.

**Pathogenic microorganisms**, particularly Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and norovirus, were identified as the second most common hazard category in food, mainly in products of animal origin.

**The Administrative Assistance and Cooperation (AAC) system**, used to report violations of EU food safety legislation that do not pose a health risk, saw a 24% increase in notifications, totaling 3,166. Non-compliant fruits and vegetables, mainly due to pesticide residues, and mislabeling of food supplements were the primary concerns.

**The Agri-Food Fraud Network (FFN)** registered a 26% rise in notifications, with 758 fraud suspicions. Illegal trade of cats and dogs, meat substitution, honey adulteration, and mislabeled olive oil were among the reported issues.

**A multi-country Salmonella outbreak linked to chicken kebab from Poland** raised serious concerns, with suspicions of forged labels and traceability issues. Further investigations revealed 61 cases related to kebab products across different networks, including the AAC and FFN.

**A highly spicy hot chip tortilla from a Czech company** triggered a RASFF notification after being distributed across Europe and beyond. While the company initially claimed sufficient warnings were given, German authorities disputed this. The Czech Republic subsequently suspended sales of the product.

The European Commission is planning **a coordinated action against “short weighting” of fishery products**, a practice involving misrepresentation of weight by including extra weight gained through various techniques.

The surge in food safety alerts and fraud investigations highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation among member states. The European Commission emphasizes the crucial role of effective monitoring, rapid response mechanisms, and ongoing collaboration to protect consumers and safeguard the integrity of the food supply chain.

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