Despite the bad image of the meat industry due to numerous scandals, there are always new problem companies in the industry.
Recently, it has also affected the Rewe butcher's shop.
Frankfurt am Main - The debates surrounding the scandals at the meat manufacturer Tönnies last year severely damaged the reputation of the meat industry: Nevertheless, new deficiencies keep coming to light - as was the case with the butcher's Wilhelm Brandenburg of the Rewe retail chain in Frankfurt am Main. The meat processing company has been accused of serious deficiencies in production since 2016. Now the company is preparing to move to a new production site.
The list of allegations that was available to the
Hessischer Rundfunk
for research purposes is long: According to the responsible auditors from the city of Frankfurt, there is mold in cold stores, rust on operating materials and building materials, heavy soiling in the work area, "deficiencies in industrial and industrial hygiene “Or a lack of washing facilities for employees.
In addition, an emergency exit door that was not "pest-proof" was found during controls.
Mold, dirt, rust - serious hygiene problems in Rewe butcher's shops
Every week, 1,350 tons of meat from the company are delivered to Rewe and Penny stores nationwide, although the company has long been suspected of failing to rectify hygiene deficiencies. As can be seen from research by the
HR
, several administrative offenses relating to hygiene in the workplace were found in food control hygiene checks in 2016. Even with renewed controls in 2018 and 2019, many of the deficiencies were proven again. Even so, there were only two administrative offense proceedings and fines.
Master
butcher and ex-food
inspector
Franz Voll explained to
HR's
request that defects are normal in a company of this size - but their extent is not.
With regard to emergency exits that are not “pest-proof”, the expert criticized: “The fact that rats can invade through a defective gate must be noticed by the company before the controller”.
Butcher Wilhelm Brandenburg: Hardly any criminal proceedings despite blatant conditions
According to the public broadcaster, the city of Frankfurt is downplaying the blatant conditions.
Only after a long delay did the city officials publish the reports of the regular controls by the Wilhelm Brandenburg company.
In the course of this, the city confirmed that extensive construction and renovation measures had been initiated after the inspections by the authorities - "in such a way that the number of complaints found has decreased significantly".
The supermarket chain Rewe also agreed.
But the notes on the inspection reports of the food control prove the opposite: There are still "deficiencies from previous inspections that have not yet been remedied" in the meat processing plant, but proceedings by the City of Frankfurt against the company have so far remained, with the exception of two fines.
In the meantime, the butcher's business has started building new premises in Erlensee in the Main-Kinzig district.
After completion, the Frankfurt plant will consequently be closed.
It will be some time before the company moves.
Only last year there was a scandal at the North Hessian sausage manufacturer Wilke - at that time, contamination in the goods could be linked to the death of several people, among other things.
(klb)
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