After research by the association “For affordable and quality food”, which found that declared sheep and buffalo cheeses contain more than 50% cow’s milk, and a brand of buffalo cheese does not contain a single gram of buffalo milk, the representatives of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency met with the chairman of the association.
The director of the Food Agency, Dr. Svetlozar Patarinski, emphasizes that it is not possible for the results of the study carried out by the association to be a starting point for taking measures by the competent authority against the producers of dairy products that have shown deviations.
“The reason for this is the laboratory analysis method used, which is accredited, but not in line with the EU-wide one, through Implementing Regulation 2018/150 regarding the methods of analysis and assessment of the quality of milk and milk products. In order to verify the accuracy of the results and to take measures, in case of detected discrepancies, the Food Agency will carry out a new sampling of the same batches, from which it determined quantities to be analyzed according to the method laid down in the legislation,” explained Dr. Patarinski.
“The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency is ready to assist with expertise in compliance with national legislation and European regulations when taking samples at the association’s initiative and determining the exact methods for their research. The goal is to implement comprehensive control over production and, above all, to protect the interests of consumers,” Dr. Patarinski also stated.
Dr. Galya Vikiova, departmental deputy executive director of the Food Agency, explained that during the official control, the Food Agency checks not only the safety, but also the quality of the food. However, she stressed that only with strict compliance with the rules for the implementation of the control, measures can be taken and sanctions can be imposed when irregularities are detected.
The possibility of joint inspections in the future was discussed at the meeting. “The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency and the association work in one direction – consumer protection,” Dr. Svetlozar Patarinski said in conclusion.
