Investigations target meat, honey and wine sectors in Portugal

Portugal’s food agency has led multiple recent operations to ensure safety and authenticity in the meat, honey and wine sectors.

The Portuguese Economic and Food Safety Authority (ASAE) conducted several inspections covering animal origin products to verify compliance with legal requirements regarding traceability, freezing procedures and packaging in meat product cutting rooms around Faro.

During one visit, following an examination by a veterinary expert, suspicions of poor practices in the freezing and packaging processes of meat were confirmed. There was also a lack of traceability for the fresh meat which was then frozen.

Criminal proceedings were started, with the seizure of 563-kilograms of frozen meat, and findings were reported to the relevant judicial authority.

Shellfish and meat
Meanwhile, a nationwide operation in November targeted operators who sell live bivalve mollusks in markets and retail establishments, to combat offenses against public health and to ensure food safety.

In total, 93 businesses were inspected with one criminal case opened. Other issues related to the marketing of fishery and aquaculture products, traceability, information on batches and weight, and non-compliance with hygiene requirements. More than 68-kilograms of food products and 12 weighing instruments were confiscated in Operation Mercurius.

In Operation Butcher, regional units of ASAE ran a national investigation focusing on meat products and any fraud that misled the consumer.

A total of 152 operators were inspected. Violations were detected that led to the initiation of criminal proceedings for clandestine slaughter and 38 administrative offense warnings. More than 82-kilograms of food products were seized after non-compliance with rules on traceability and labeling of meat.

Wine and honey actions
Another investigation focused on the authenticity and quality of wines with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Controlled Designation of Origin (DOC), and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in Vila Real.

During a visit to a wine bottling, marketing, and export facility, a false wall was discovered hiding an area where DOC Douro wines were bottled, and where bottles of wine ready for labeling were stored. The action resulted in 1,326 bottles and 12,000 labels being seized.

Fraudulent practices in the honey value chain were the subject of a different investigation in Évora and Aljustrel.

The operation took place after detection of packaged honey with a false veterinary control number (NCV). Based on investigations using document traceability, ASAE identified the operator responsible for packaging and placing the product on the market. More than 5 tons of honey was seized. 

Criminal proceedings were initiated for the alleged crimes of document forgery and fraud. An administrative offense was also identified for misleading consumers about the product’s origin. The firm was authorized to extract and package honey from its own farm but officials said all the honey found originated from other producers.

Joe Whitworth

Prior to reporting for Food Safety News, Whitworth worked for William Reed as editor of Food Quality News before becoming food safety editor for Food Navigator. He was named in the Top 40 Food Safety Professionals Under 40 in 2023.

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