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The company produces products for a special target group – infants and toddlers, so it is not surprising that it stands out more often. Although the Marmaluzi producers position themselves as a small company that exclusively produces Lithuanian products (“all raw materials come from clean local farms”), the SFVS notes that a significant part of the raw material is imported by the third country producer, like Belarus. . During the six years of operation, not only food labels or advertising were detected, but also food safety violations, for example, acrylamides were found in the Marmaluzi mashed potatoes with pieces of fish, nitrates were found in the zucchini puree (at that time the manufacturer was called UAB Kaniu) SFVS report.
According to consumers, based on the food handling activities carried out, the target group of consumers of the manufactured products and the results of the previous inspections (infractions identified during them), UAB Straikas is assigned to the highest risk group, therefore perform your check more often.
This company has been warned more than once about food labeling violations. Like other companies, the SFVS allows you to correct deficiencies and provide explanations.
As early as 2020, the SFVS found that the company’s food descriptions used prohibited claims (that is, those claims could not be included in the labeling, advertising, and presentation of food products) that referred to: human diseases and properties prophylactics, such as: “[i]Uniform and assimilated absorption through the use of goat’s milk and goat’s milk ”,“ one of the preventive measures against constipation in infants / young children ”.
Associative photo.
In addition, the company’s food descriptions use strictly limited health and nutrition claims (which are only allowed under specific legal conditions): for example, on the health of food, – “[š]These juices are a great source of energy, rich in iron, which stimulates the body’s production of hemoglobin, potassium, vitamin B6 ‘, as well as nutrition, such as’ rich in vitamins, antioxidants and minerals that stimulate digestion’.
In total, the inspection revealed irregularities in the claims and advertising used in the names of 60 different products or in their presentation.
In order to fully assess the information on the validity of the allegations and ensure mutual cooperation, the company was requested in writing to provide information on the validity of the allegations used and the measures envisaged to remedy the irregularities found.
Importantly, the investigation did not result in any restrictive measures or administrative effect on the company, even after the irregularities were identified, in particular to clarify the situation and provide an opportunity to remedy the non-compliance.
It should be noted that the company did not take into account all SFVS comments, that is, the nutritional and health claims continued to be used in violation of the legal conditions for their use. Therefore, the SFVS Vilnius Department in 2020. conducted an unscheduled inspection of the company in May. After evaluating the information collected during the study, the explanations provided by the company and the provisions of the legislation applicable to food, in 2020. In October a protocol on the violation of the Advertising Law was drawn up and delivered to the Service State for the Protection of Consumer Rights, which knows the cases of violation of the Advertising Law, which makes final decisions.
It should be noted that the company was informed and consulted about the requirements for supplying food information. Therefore, SFVS felt that it should have had sufficient information on the rules and procedures for the use of specific claims on food labels.
As required by law, only health and nutritional claims included in a list approved by European Commission decisions may be used in the labeling, advertising or description of various foods. Any company that wishes to use an exclusive health or nutritional claim that is not included in said list must request the authorization of said claim from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), providing all the documentation that supports the claim, including, in your case, the results. of clinical trials. The list of food claims approved by the European Commission can be completed only after the relevant opinion has been obtained from EFSA on the validity of the claim.
The SFVS is of the opinion that in this case the company’s complaints about excessive bureaucracy are unfounded, since it was given a sufficiently long period (about half a year) to correct the deficiencies and no administrative sanctions were imposed on the company pending specific corrective actions. .
The SFVS considers that the imposition of violations or the granting of unjustified reservations to a company, even in the case of labeling violations, cannot be tolerated and would negatively affect the activities of other companies that implement the requirements in good faith and, in principle, and they would create unequal competitive conditions in the market.
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