The Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection conducted the first nationwide inspection of processed mushrooms (pickled, dried and brined wild mushrooms) on such a scale. Inspectors verified the commercial quality of processed mushrooms for compliance with applicable regulations and declarations.
The Inspectorate checked the pickled mushrooms. Numerous irregularities
“The inspection was carried out at the production stage and stores in the last quarter of last year throughout the country. Products were checked in 89 entities, with irregularities found in 35 (39.3 percent of those checked)” – we read in the inspection report. The inspection of organoleptic characteristics covered 62 batches of goods (of which 23 batches were questioned – 37.1%), and the inspection of physicochemical characteristics covered 113 batches (irregularities were revealed in 55 batches – 48.7%).
Laboratory tests were used to assess the organoleptic and physicochemical properties and showed, among other things, a higher content of red mushrooms than permitted by regulations (the permitted value is up to 5% of the mushroom mass), the presence of mouldy mushrooms and mushrooms with a soft, disintegrating consistency, live and dead pests in the packaging, and the presence of a different species of mushrooms than declared in the labelling.
In terms of labelling, 203 batches were checked, of which 45 (22.2%) were questioned. The labelling of processed mushrooms was questioned both in shops and at producers' premises. The inspectors found, among other things:
- lack of information about drying and pasteurizing products;
- lack of the declared mushroom species in the packaging, e.g. morel;
- lack of full labeling in Polish;
- sale after the date of minimum durability;
- presenting nutritional information without specifying whether it refers to the whole product or without the filling;
- providing the net weight of the product along with tolerances;
- missing or incorrectly provided qualification number of the classifier/mushroom expert;
- no year of harvest and certificate number provided on the packaging of dried mushrooms.
“As a result of the irregularities found, based on the provisions of the Act on the commercial quality of agricultural and food products, inspectors issued 34 administrative decisions imposing fines, seven decisions prohibiting the introduction of goods that did not meet the requirements of commercial quality into circulation, and in two cases decisions were issued with a waiver of the fine due to the low harmfulness of the act,” we read in the release. The inspectors also imposed 10 penalty tickets and issued 49 post-inspection recommendations, but as noted: “due to the unfinished administrative proceedings and ongoing appeal procedures, the final number and size of the applied sanctions may be subject to change.”
An Appeal to Consumers: What to Look Out for When Buying Processed Mushrooms?
The Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection appeals to consumers to pay attention to, among other things, information about the technological processes used in production (about the drying of mushrooms or pasteurization to which the product was subjected and the classifier's/mushroom expert's authorization number). Additionally, if mushrooms are sold in a marinade (e.g. pickled mushrooms), the manufacturer is obliged to precisely indicate whether the nutritional value refers to the entire product or to mushrooms without the marinade.