Auchan starts internal investigation after food watchdog inspections
MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) - The Russian division of French retailer Auchan is starting an internal investigation for clarification of details following inspections which were carried about by the Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor), Maria Kurnosova, external communications director for Auchan, told Interfax.
Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor reported that it had uncovered a few violations which were found during inspections in the meat sections of four different Auchan hypermarkets.
As a result of the inspections at four Auchan hypermarkets, Rosselkhoznadzor specialists uncovered cattle, chicken and sheep DNA in ground pork; in semi-kebab made from beef and lamb they found pork, cattle and sheep DNA, all of which was available on store shelves in the chilled meat section.
Earlier on Tuesday the veterinary service also reported horse DNA in ground pork.
The Auchan press service said that the company does not use horse meat and suggested that it could be a product from a supplier.
"Right now Auchan is preparing a letter for Rosselkhoznadzor asking for the release of information about the discovery of horse DNA during the inspections; horse DNA could not have been found in Auchan products, because horse meat is not used in our products," Kurnosova said.
Additionally, according to Auchan, Rosselkhoznadzor used the polymerase chain reaction method for identifying DNA. "This method is extremely sensitive, that is, the tiniest contact by a piece of another object, for example from work surfaces, gloves, or knives, will instantly show a positive result. But that does not automatically mean that, for example, there was actually beef added to ground pork. In order to get such a result it would be necessary to carry out other laboratory tests to study the exact make-up of the product," she said.
In the framework of the company investigation, product samples were sent for additional lab tests. "If the case turns out to be that Auchan is at fault for not following technological norms, then the employees responsible will be punished. If it turns out to be malicious acts of a rival, then Auchan will call the authorities in to investigate," she said.
Earlier, Rosselkhoznadzor said: "This allows us to make the conclusion that meat is being falsified by switching one type of meat with another, less expensive type," and went on to say that Auchan broke the technical regulations of the Customs Union, which establish mandatory requirements for food products and labeling. The documents from the checks will be sent to a court to bring administrative responsibility to the retailer in line with administrative code 14.43 of the Russian Federation.
Inspections were conducted at four Auchan hypermarkets, in the Moscow area, Auchan Sokolniki, Auchan Aviapark, Auchan Marfino, and Auchan Rublyovo between 14 and 21 July. The watchdog followed the composition of meat production (ground beef, pork, and kebab) produced by Auchan, which were for sale in the frozen food isles in the stores.
Earlier the watchdog found that sausage past its use-by date was being used to make pizza at an Auchan hypermarket. On July 20, pizza was being made with smoked sausage with a use-by date of July 5.
The watchdog has also found Auchan stores selling meat past its use-by date. A distribution center shipped chilled meat with a use-by date in 24-48 hours, but after it was processed at hypermarkets (removed from vacuum packaging, cut), the labels stated a use-by date in 48 to 72 hours. The use-by period for meat after it is removed from vacuum packaging is not supposed to exceed 12 hours, the regulator said.
"The identified shortcomings arose after the introduction of a new technical regulation of the Customs Union on the safety of meat and meat products, according to which the producer is supposed to indicate the use-by date after opening of packaging. In the future, Auchan will go by the recommended standards for use-by dates," Kurnosova said.
France's Auchan has been working in Russia since 2002. At the end of last year the company's chain comprised 84 stores in Russia: some 55 classic hypermarkets, 23 Auchan City stores and six Nasha Raduga outlets.
Auchan revenue in 2014 was 313.6 billion rubles, with net profit of 11.9 billion rubles, according to information from the Interfax SPARK database.