The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) carried out over 106,000 inspections at around 56,000 companies in the food chain last year. The results of these inspections were mostly positive, with 85% of cases yielding favorable results. In cases where the inspection was unfavorable, the FASFC could take various measures such as issuing a warning (15,728 times), a report (10,044 times), or seizing products (2,174 times). If the health of consumers was at risk, the FASFC could also temporarily close down the company (399 times in 2023).
In addition to inspections, the FASFC also collected and analyzed 64,648 samples of foodstuffs on the Belgian market. A staggering 98% of these samples met the required standards, indicating a strong level of food safety in Belgium. The FASFC also conducted checks on over 21,000 distribution sector companies such as catering establishments and supermarkets. These checks resulted in a positive outcome in 69.3% of cases. The main areas of focus in this sector were providing accurate allergen information to consumers and maintaining proper hand hygiene standards.
The annual report revealed that Belgian food companies recalled 254 products from consumers due to chemical or microbiological risks. Moreover, 85 warnings were issued due to missing allergen information on labels. Despite these challenges, the food safety barometer in Belgium increased by 2.2% in 2023 due to factors such as fewer cases of food poisoning and reduced occurrences of salmonellosis and campylobacter being found in carcasses and cut meat.
Federal Minister of Agriculture David Clarinval commended the professional sectors for their vigilance in adhering to food safety regulations while emphasizing that maintaining high standards is crucial for ensuring consumer trust.
Overall, these findings highlight that Belgian companies are taking proactive measures towards ensuring consumer safety by adhering to regulations and guidelines set forth by agencies like FASFC.
