Hesse's Environment Minister Priska Hinz (Greens) wants to tighten food controls. Background is the scandal around germ-laden sausage.
There must be more efficient structures that allow for early intervention and leave the ministry more room for maneuver, said the minister in Wiesbaden. "We need a better-established food monitoring, so that such a case does not occur again."
The products of the North Hessian sausage manufacturer Wilke are associated with two deaths and 37 other illnesses due to germ-laden sausage.
Prosecutor's office determined
The public prosecutor Kassel investigates against the managing director because of the initial suspicion of the negligent killing as well as the negligent bodily injury and the violation of the food law. The company has meanwhile filed for bankruptcy. Therefore, there is currently no cooperation with the authorities, said Hinz.
The municipal authorities responsible for food control had not yet submitted a final report on the proceedings at Wilke Waldecker Fleisch- und Wurstwaren GmbH, said the Green politician. Therefore, she could not conclusively say whether errors were made in the controls.
The Ministry did not have the competence to shut down the operation.
