Published in News
Portugal cracks down on food fraud
Food inspectors in Portugal have taken strong action against illegal practices in meat, shellfish, wine, and honey to protect consumers.
Martina Osmak
Director of Marketing
Strong checks by food inspectors
Portugal’s food safety authority, ASAE, has carried out several investigations across the country. These actions focused on food safety, correct labeling, and product authenticity.
The inspections happened in different regions and targeted businesses dealing with products of animal origin. Officials looked closely at traceability, hygiene, packaging, and possible fraud.
Meat inspections in the south
In the Faro area, inspectors visited meat cutting and freezing facilities. With the help of a veterinary expert, they found serious problems.
Main issues included:
Poor freezing and packaging practices
No clear records showing where the meat came from
Fresh meat frozen without proper documentation
Because of this, criminal proceedings were opened. Authorities seized 563 kilograms of frozen meat and reported the case to the courts.
Checks on shellfish and fresh food
In November, ASAE ran a nationwide operation to check businesses selling live shellfish, especially bivalve mollusks, in markets and shops.
Results of this operation:
93 businesses inspected
1 criminal case opened
Problems with hygiene, labeling, and traceability
Over 68 kilograms of food seized
12 weighing machines confiscated
These actions aimed to protect public health and ensure fair trade.
National operation on meat fraud
Another operation, called Operation Butcher, focused on meat fraud across Portugal.
Inspectors found:
Cases of illegal slaughter
Missing or incorrect meat labels
Poor traceability records
As a result:
Criminal cases were opened for clandestine slaughter
38 administrative warnings were issued
More than 82 kilograms of meat products were seized
Wine fraud uncovered in the Douro region
ASAE also investigated wine producers in Vila Real, focusing on wines with protected status such as DOC and PDO.
During one inspection, officers discovered:
A hidden room behind a false wall
Bottling of DOC Douro wine in an unapproved area
Bottles ready for labeling without authorization
This led to the seizure of:
1,326 bottles of wine
12,000 wine labels
The case raised serious concerns about wine authenticity in the Douro region.
Honey fraud in Alentejo
Investigations into honey packaging took place in Évora and Aljustrel.
Inspectors found packaged honey with:
A false veterinary control number
Misleading information about origin
Key findings:
Over 5 tons of honey seized
Honey came from other producers, not the company’s own farm
Criminal cases opened for document forgery and fraud
One administrative offense for misleading consumers
Protecting consumers and honest businesses
ASAE said these actions are part of ongoing efforts to:
Keep food safe
Stop fraud
Protect honest producers
Make sure consumers get correct information
More inspections are expected as authorities continue to monitor food safety and authenticity across Portugal.