EU reports increase in food safety alerts for 2024
The European Commission has released its annual RASFF report, highlighting significant trends in food and feed safety for 2024. The report indicates a notable rise in the number of notifications concerning suspected fraud, with a striking 21% increase in alerts through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Additionally, the Administrative Assistance and Cooperation (AAC) network reported a 24% rise in notifications related to potential intentional misconduct.
This annual report, part of the Alert and Cooperation Network (ACN), provides a comprehensive overview of data collected via the iRASFF electronic system, which facilitates communication between the European Commission and the designated liaison bodies from Member States. The report not only tracks food safety trends but also emphasizes the critical role of surveillance and cooperation among regulatory authorities.
In 2024, a total of 1 959 notifications were flagged by RASFF and 1 335 by the AAC as potentially linked to fraud. These notifications encompass various aspects of the agri-food supply chain, including food, feed, and materials in contact with food, as well as veterinary medicines and agricultural inputs. The findings serve as a valuable tool for Member States to implement risk-based controls and help food businesses identify vulnerabilities to fraud and deception.
The report details intensified official controls at border posts, with 147 inspections conducted on products of animal origin. Among these, 40 were directly related to fraud, including unauthorized antimicrobial agents found in food products, particularly within fishery items. The countries most frequently implicated were Turkey, China, and India.
Meat and meat products accounted for 10% of all notifications, with microbiological hazards leading the concerns. Salmonella was notably present in poultry, minced beef, and pork sausages, while Listeria and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli were also reported in beef and pork products. Instances of chemical contaminants, such as lead and cadmium, were identified, along with cases of misleading labeling and unauthorized substitutions.
Notifications regarding milk and dairy products made up 3% of total alerts. Over half of these were tied to potential health risks, including microbiological contamination from Listeria and E. coli. A significant case involved Yersinia enterocolitica found in raw goat cheese from France, which had widespread distribution across 30 countries, leading to 181 reported illnesses.
Notifications of non-compliance and suspected fraud often reveal issues like poor traceability, inadequate documentation, false origin claims, misuse of protected designations (PDO and PGI), and product tampering, including undeclared additives and substitutions.
In 2024, products from France, Italy, and the Netherlands were most impacted, with France reporting the highest number of cases.
The 2024 RASFF report underscores the pressing need for vigilance in food safety, as rising fraud alerts highlight ongoing challenges within the agri-food sector. The European Commission's efforts to foster cooperation and improve oversight will be crucial in addressing these issues in the coming years.
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