Food controls in the Rhein-Sieg district: Consumer protection increasingly active!

Der Rhein-Sieg-Kreis berichtet über Lebensmittelkontrollen und Verbraucherschutzmaßnahmen zum Weltverbrauchertag 2025.
The Rhein-Sieg district reports on food controls and consumer protection measures on World Consumer Day 2025. (Symbolbild/ANAG)

Food controls in the Rhein-Sieg district: Consumer protection increasingly active!

Last year, the authorities of the Rhein-Sieg district, such as the veterinary and food surveillance office, particularly focused on the safety of food. On the upcoming World Consumer Day on March 15, 2025, those responsible are commemorating the controls carried out, which were based on both food distributors as well as supermarkets and discounters. These measures are part of a comprehensive effort for health consumer protection in the region and beyond.

Food distribution is often via companies that relate excess but still edible food from the trade. These are offered free of charge for private use and often include products that are about the expiry of the best -before date or have visible defects, such as damaged packaging. It is the responsibility of the operators to ensure that the food is consumable and harmless to health, whereby hygienic storage conditions and compliance with the cold chain are absolutely necessary. Despite the support of such initiatives, the Rhein-Sieg district has considered essential to ensure food safety.

controls and results

The authorities carried out seven focus controls among food distributors last year as part of their efforts. Five of the controlled distributors were objected to due to minor defects. At the same time, the number of reports on pest infestation in the local supermarkets increased. This has led to an intensification of controls by the food surveillance office, which checked a total of 100 supermarkets and food discounters.

The results of these controls were worrying: In the case of nine companies, an infestation with mice was found. In addition, an infestation with cockroaches and 23 companies with flight insects, such as moths, was shown in a company. It is important to emphasize that operators are obliged to set up a monitoring system to control pests; Combating pest infestation is mandatory. In the case of identified problems, instructions were made most frequently, while in individual cases also fine procedures were initiated.

The entire control process is part of the comprehensive EU food law, which aims to protect consumers' health. The basis is regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, which defines the requirements for food safety. Foods that are not safe must not be placed on the market, which makes the responsibility of the food entrepreneurs even more important. The responsible authorities in Germany carry out regular, risk -based controls to check the agreement with these legal requirements.

responsibility and surveillance

Food security in Germany is an important topic, especially at a time when the food trade becomes global. According to the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) and other corresponding authorities, hundreds of thousands of companies are checked annually; In 2022 there were 477,086. These controls include both manufacturing and processing companies as well as retail and restaurants.

companies are encouraged to ensure the safety and quality of their products through their own controls. This responsibility is supported by strict regulatory framework that ensures that import products also have to meet the same safety standards as domestic products. Consumers also play an important role in reporting defects in hygiene or incorrect awards.

In summary, the intensive control of the food distribution and the fight against pests shows how seriously the authorities take to ensure food safety. The Rhein-Sieg district relies on a balance between support for food distributors and compliance with strict security standards. Consumers can rely on regular checks in the region to be carried out to ensure their health and security.

Details
Quellen