Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) seized 70 tons of food worth 250,000 euros in cold stores in recent months, according to a statement from this criminal police body.
According to the note, a criminal case was initiated for “damaged abnormal foodstuffs, with determination of the total suspension of activity” of an establishment located in Loures.
At this location, around 65 tons of food were seized, namely frozen fish, shrimp and octopus, and it was also noted that food had been packaged and frozen for more than five years “in very poor storage conditions, lack of hygiene and high risk of unhealthy conditions”.
According to the administrative authority that in Portugal is specialized in the areas of food safety and economic supervision, those responsible for this establishment and the holder of the merchandise were accused and subject to an identity and residence term.
Total suspension of activity of three establishments by ASAE
On the other hand, ASAE also ordered the total suspension of the activity of three establishments located in the Algarve municipalities of Silves, Portimão and Lagoa/Parchal, after having seized around five tons of food of animal origin, namely meat products. , frozen fish and milk-based products, according to the same note.
The action that led to these three suspensions began in December last year when it carried out several inspection actions at cold stores storing foodstuffs in the southernmost region of mainland Portugal.
The investigations into these cases were concluded in February, due to the “large quantities of products seized”.
According to ASAE, the balance of actions in the Algarve led to the initiation of three administrative offense proceedings due to lack of licensing to carry out temperature-controlled storage activities for food products of animal origin, as well as the lack of a veterinary control number ( NCV).
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