Severe irregularities were detected in a meat processing room during a series of inspections conducted by the Southern Regional Unit — Operational Unit of Faro from the ASAE in animal origin product industries in this Algarve municipality, as stated by the food safety authority.
The purpose of the inspection was to verify compliance with legal requirements regarding traceability, freezing procedures, and packaging in meat processing rooms in Faro, justified the ASAE in a statement.
“During one of the inspections, following a direct macroscopic examination carried out by an ASAE veterinary doctor, suspicions of malpractice in the processes of freezing and packaging of meats were confirmed. It was determined that these were abnormal spoiled foodstuffs, constituting a criminal offense, as well as abnormal products due to lack of legal requirements, constituting an administrative infraction,” it specified.
ASAE confirmed that the traceability of fresh meats to be later frozen was not being ensured, representing a “clear violation of established best practices for this procedure,” it noted.
A criminal case was opened against the operator in question, and 563 kilograms of frozen meat were seized. The facts were communicated to the competent judicial authority, concluded ASAE.
