Products were immersed in water, salt and food additives for approximately three days to increase weight.
The Food and Economic Security Authority (ASAE) seized around 18 tons of octopus and pota with additives in an industrial establishment, located in the district of Coimbra.
In a statement sent this Tuesday to the Lusa agency, ASAE states that the total value of the seizure amounts to 115 thousand euros and was destined for the national and European commercial circuit.
The seizure occurred after several investigative steps carried out by the Specialized Brigade for the Industries of Products of Animal Origin, of the Central Regional Unit, as part of the fight against illicit acts against public health.
The inspection operation was directed at an industrial establishment “to verify compliance with the conditions for storing and handling fishery products, in the district of Coimbra”.
“As a balance of the action, 17,814 kilograms of fishery products – octopus and porpoise – were seized after verifying the fraudulent practice of immersing foodstuffs in water, salt and additives, for approximately three days, with the purpose of increase their weight, with fluctuations ranging between 17% and 42% in the case of pota tentacles and between 22% and 70% in the case of octopus”, says the statement.
According to ASAE, “the immediate suspension of the product repackaging activity was determined, as the establishment is not approved by the competent authority to carry out the activity”.
An administrative offense proceeding was also initiated “for non-compliance with the rules relating to fair information practices on foodstuffs, for placing products of animal origin on the market without identification marks and for the lack of foodstuff requirements”.
Tags: ASAE seizes tons octopus pota additives Coimbra Portugal
