Ε.Φ.Ε.Τ. Update for Christmas

O E.F.E.T. continues with intensive pace the controls on the food market during the holidays, with the main aim of both ensuring the health of consumers and protecting their interests from any risk or practice of undermining them.

In order to better inform consumers, especially during the festive period of Christmas and New Year, the following are recalled:

SIMPLE TIPS FOR HER FOOD SHOPPING

• In general for the supply of Meat:

  • Meat should always be available refrigerated 2º – 5º C for fresh and at a temperature of – 18º C or even lower for frozen meat. Meat should never be made available from open non-refrigerated areas.

  • The consumer must to look for health control stamps showing that the competent veterinary services have carried out the required control.

• In particular for the supply of Poultry Meat (Turkeys - Chickens etc) and poultry products:
  • Turkeys are available for sale either fresh (packaged or not) or frozen.
  • Fresh turkeys should be kept refrigerated 2º – 4º C and never in open non-refrigerated areas. Frozen should be kept in a freezer - 18º C or even lower temperature.
  • Fresh domestic unpackaged turkeys must be eviscerated (gutted), plucked and have suitability marking (either in the form of a stamp or, more commonly, on a single-use tag, suitably placed on the meat).
  • Packaged fresh or frozen turkeys must bear the suitability marking of the country of origin and the use-by date (placed on or below the package or wrapper, in a legible manner).
  • Frozen poultry, which comes from a group package and is sold unpackaged, may be sold without individual marking, provided that the markings of the second package have been transferred to the display case of the sales freezer.
  • The placing on the market of poultry products (poultry, eggs, etc.) with indications of their special method of production (e.g. "free range", "organic farming", etc.) must also be accompanied by the special mark granted by the O.P.E.G.E.P. – AGROCERT in certified farms or facilities.

• For the supply of game meat:

When purchasing wild or farmed game carcasses, special care should be taken to ensure that game sold whole is eviscerated and has a seal of suitability. Standardized imported or domestic game must also bear a suitability mark and a use-by date.

• For the supply of Dairy Products:
  • Packaged cheeses should bear an identification mark (oval stamp) with the initials of the country of production and the manufacturer's approval number. Also, the use-by date should be written on the package.
  • Cheeses should be kept in the refrigerator.
  • Products containing vegetable fat (instead of animal fat) are NON-DAIRY PRODUCTS and must be available for sale in separate areas from dairy products.
• For the supply of Confectionery Products:
  • For the safety of certain confectionery products, when this is required, these products should be kept in the refrigerator, with the correct storage temperatures.

E.F.E.T. also recommends to consumers:

• To buy food from official and controlled market points.

• To buy poultry and meat that is placed in refrigerators or display cases - refrigerators and not those that are outside the refrigerator, hanging from hangers and exposed to dust and germs.

• To pay particular attention to the handling of food by the staff, to the cleanliness of the staff, the equipment and the area from which the poultry, meat and other perishable products (dairy, eggs, etc.) are procured.

• The diet of the days should be based on variety and in moderation as is traditionally appropriate and should be accompanied by physical exercise, while the consumption of alcohol should be done in moderation.

Finally, EFET reminds the special communication line, 11717, which is at the disposal of all consumers, where they can report / complain about any non-compliance - violation of the legislation that comes to their attention.

For more information, see also the E.F.E.T. link below. :

http://www.efet.gr/portal/page/portal/efetnew/library/consumers_info?cat=CONSUMERS

The scientific staff of EFET intensify their work even more especially during the holiday season to protect the health of consumers and their interests. The controls of the E.F.E.T. are carried out systematically and are particularly strict on businesses that do not comply with the requirements of the legislation, especially during this festive season.

E.F.E.T. wishes you HAPPY HOLIDAYS

124 Kifisias & 2 Iatridou, 115 26 Athens, Tel.: 210-6971500, Fax: 210 6971501

E-mail: info@efet.gr, Internet Site: www.efet.gr