Food inspections

“The year of the cockroaches”: 8 businesses closed down

The Upper Austrian food safety authority inspected almost 7000 businesses last year, including restaurants.

(Bild: P. Huber)

Four catering establishments and two supermarkets were closed by the food police in Upper Austria last year because of the crawling "guests". Two further businesses were also closed. However, these disgusting cases are the exception in more than 21,000 businesses. The inspection authority took stock of the previous year.

Not for the faint-hearted: "2023 was the year of cockroaches" - reports Astrid Zeller, who is not actually an insect expert but the head of food inspection in Upper Austria. Her authority had to close four businesses in the hospitality industry and two supermarkets last year due to the crawling "guests". In addition, there was another business closure due to refrigeration failing overnight and subsequently ruined food, as well as a closed supermarket because birds had nested inside.

More than 21,000 businesses
The eight temporary closures - all affected businesses were able to reopen shortly afterwards after the defects were rectified - were more than in previous years, but with more than 21,000 businesses in the province, they were of course still the absolute exception.

The complaint rate was below the long-term average: of more than 4,000 samples taken by the food inspectorate, 11.7 percent showed defects, compared to 12.5 percent in 2022 and 14 percent in 2019. The most common defect in the previous year was incorrect labeling, with only twelve samples being harmful to health.

"Clear improvements"
The food inspectorate inspected almost 7,000 businesses in total in 2023. Consumer Protection Minister Stefan Kaineder (Greens) said at the presentation of the results: "We know that the consistent inspections and follow-up checks are having an impact and bringing clear improvements."