Inspections carried out in Czech stores have revealed numerous violations of food and consumer protection laws, including rodents, their feces, and mold, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Czech Trade Inspection (ČOI). Of the 417 inspections, 91 cases are suspected of violating the law, and in nine cases, there were even two violations within one inspection. In addition to breaches of hygiene requirements, the sellers provided misleading information to consumers, such as offering food with expired use-by dates, and did not calculate discounts from the lowest price in the previous 30-day period. However, the details of the cases were not disclosed, and it is unclear how many establishments are involved or what penalties the sellers may face.

Regarding the disclosed violations, neither the Czech Trade Inspection nor the Ministry of Agriculture provided details upon inquiry. The inspection did not reveal the names of the stores, stating that the decision had not yet become legally binding. It is not yet clear what penalties, if any, the stores will face, as some cases are still being resolved. The Ministry of Agriculture spokesperson stated that the results of completed inspections will be published on the “Food on the Pillory” website for consumers.

The discovery of rodents in the stores prompted the Minister of Agriculture Zdeněk Nekula to speak about the inspections’ outcomes. He tweeted that the results were “dramatically worse” than expected and said that he would welcome chains taking care to “properly declare prices and ensure that mice do not run around stores so that the food inspection does not have to close stores.”

In conclusion, the recent violations of food and consumer protection laws in Czech stores highlight the importance of complying with hygiene requirements and providing accurate information to consumers. As more cases are still being resolved, it is essential to await further information regarding penalties or actions that will be taken to prevent such violations in the future.

Article by Prague Forum