In April, the NAS of Bologna carried out a series of inspection activities aimed at verifying the correct management of the coffee production chain. The inspections focused on the factories of the companies present in the 5 provinces of competence (Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Rimini), highlighting widespread irregularities especially with regards to the presence of mycotoxins harmful to humans and the repackaging and re-marketing of coffee whose expiry date has been exceeded for some time. A total of 22 checks were carried out, identifying critical issues on 11 occasions, especially at companies in the provinces of Bologna and Forlì-Cesena.
In Imola
In the Imola area, in the vicinity of a coffee producing company, the storage of several tons of coffee and other food products (sugar, barley coffee, cocoa) was found inside a large building (acquired from an adjacent disused company and in use for about 10 years). This warehouse, in addition to being in critical hygienic-sanitary and structural conditions, was also used as a storage facility for materials: in fact, furniture, sofas, distillation stills, bricks, wood, disused machinery and even a boat about 5 meters long. For these reasons, following a request from the operating staff, the warehouse itself was suspended and prohibited from use by the competent local health authority.
In Forlì lizards and rodents
Then it was in the Forlì area the activity of another industry in the sector was suspended, as management and operational methods were recognized within it, which had now been outdated for decades. An evident infestation by lizards and rodents was also found for which the company staff had decided to distribute cardboards sprinkled with mastic on the floor – in several points of the roasting plant and close to the coffee to be processed or already processed – rather than brushing glue directly onto the floor, as well as piles of poisoned grains, in total disregard of the legal provisions regarding the fight against pests and without considering the potential risk of contamination of food products due to already poisoned and dying animals that potentially could have circulated in the plant before dying.
The balance of the 22 checks
Overall, the activities conducted by the Bologna Anti-Facility and Healthcare Unit have made it possible to suspend activities worth approximately 11 million euros, seize over 35,000 kg of coffee (worth approximately 820,000 euros) and raise administrative sanctions for a total of 28,000 euros.
