As of: February 5, 2024, 9:43 p.m
By: Marc Dimitriu, Julia Hanigk
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Has food become less safe?
Foreign bodies, salmonella or missing information about allergenic ingredients are leading to more and more recalls.
Kassel – Whether spaghetti, pizza or bread: there are reports of recalls almost every week.
The Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has now published an annual balance sheet on lebensmittelwarning.de - has our food become less safe?
Increasing trend in food recalls over the years - no increase between 2022 and 2023
In 2023, 308 recalls of food and other products were published on an official government platform in Germany.
Compared to 2022, this number has remained constant, but in a longer-term comparison over the years the trend is increasing.
The head of the BVL food safety department, Andrea Luger, explained: “The consistently high number shows that companies in Germany are complying with their legal reporting obligations.”
Better procedures and marketing strategies lead to more recalls
Public recalls are now also seen as part of responsible management that demonstrates trustworthiness, the statement continues.
But not only that, the procedures have also improved.
With today's analysis methods, even the slightest contamination can be found.
The portal lists recalls from companies and warnings from authorities regarding food, cosmetics and items such as toys.
These are products that are dangerous to health or that could deceive consumers.
A new development of the portal will go online from summer, as the BVL announced.
A smartphone app will also be coming.
Callbacks continue to increase.
(Symbolic image) © Moritz Frankenberg/dpa/picture alliance
Salmonella as the main reason for recalls
What was particularly striking in the investigations was the frequency of the reasons why products are recalled.
The BVL said: “In almost a third, microbiological contamination was the reason for the warning.” The main cause was salmonella.
They can cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses if consumed.
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What is Salmonella?
Salmonella are bacteria whose metabolism, according to the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL), “can trigger acute intestinal inflammation, salmonellosis, in humans”.
A salmonella infection can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever and diarrhea and can last for several days.
According to the Robert Koch Institute, deaths from salmonellosis are rare in Germany.
People usually become infected through contaminated meat or through raw eggs that have not been heated enough.
Foodwatch calls for warnings via app, newsletter and website
The consumer protection organization
Foodwatch,
however, criticized the approach to product warnings.
Accordingly, the system still has some weak points because many consumers still find out about the many product warnings too late or not at all.
“Supermarkets must be required to clearly display all food recalls in their stores,” the organization said.
They further demand: The control authorities should also inform people via a newsletter and a warning app and not just via a website.
(jh/md with dpa)