Spanish Authorities Crack Down on Food Safety Violations: 28 Tons of Unfit Food Seized

Madrid, September 14, 2023 – In a sweeping operation spanning multiple provinces, Spanish authorities have seized a staggering 28 tons of food deemed unsuitable for human consumption due to alleged fraudulent practices, including tampering with shelf life dates, manipulated labels, and traceability irregularities. The crackdown, known as “Operation Potacar,” led to the arrest of eight individuals, while an additional 81 are under investigation for a range of offenses, including fraud, public health violations, and document falsification.

The Guardia Civil, along with officials from Aragon, Valencia, and Andalusia, conducted the operation, uncovering a web of malpractice within the food industry. Here is a breakdown of the findings:

Manipulation of Shelf Life Dates: The investigation commenced with an inspection at a company in Cuarte de Huerva, Zaragoza, where authorities discovered food items suspected of having their shelf life dates altered to extend their viability. Several batches of these products had already made their way to other locations.

Expired and Mislabelled Products: A subsequent inspection at another Zaragoza-based company revealed food products that had expired but were still being sold, and items that should have been marketed as fresh but had been frozen before their expiration date, only to be placed on sale afterward.

Irregularities in Labeling: In Xirivella, Valencia, officials identified a company selling products with expired shelf life dates and labeling irregularities, raising concerns about accurate product information reaching consumers.

Widespread Non-Compliance: Additional visits to 19 establishments across various regions exposed further non-compliance issues, reinforcing the scale of the problem.Over several months, authorities conducted numerous inspections at various outlets in different areas, leading to the seizure of more than 18,000 kilograms of products that were deemed unsafe for human consumption.

Meat Supplier Implicated: The operation’s final phase brought to light that most of the compromised food was traced back to a company in Zaragoza, which supplied meat products to various outlets.

This crackdown follows a similar incident earlier this year when Spanish authorities confiscated over 16 tons of unfit food, including beverages, canned items, meat products, nuts, and sweets. The Guardia Civil and officials from the Aragón region made the discovery at a warehouse for the distribution of food products, highlighting a concerning trend of food safety violations within the country.

In another unrelated investigation, Spanish authorities arrested nine individuals for selling cannabis disguised as candy. Under “Operation Kaugumi,” these individuals packaged cannabis products to resemble bags of sweets and distributed them through sports nutrition stores and service stations. The operation was initiated following inquiries by the Guardia Civil in Almería.

These recent actions underscore the commitment of Spanish authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the food supply chain and other consumer products, sending a clear message that fraudulent practices will not be tolerated.