Serious violations

Scandal: Illegal butcher’s shop in Vienna busted

Several hundred kilograms of meat will now be destroyed in the course of the search (symbolic image).

(Bild: P. Huber)

On Thursday, an illegal butcher's shop in Vienna-Favoriten was busted following a tip-off. Three illegal workers were found in the former butcher's shop and serious breaches of hygiene regulations and food safety were discovered. 

The premises were in a scandalous state when the emergency measures group arrived. "Refrigeration facilities were not being used and hygiene measures were being completely disregarded. In total, several hundred kilograms of meat had been destroyed," it said. 

Scandalous hygiene conditions in "butcher's shop"
"Meat was stored at an unacceptable 19 degrees, sometimes directly on the floor. Frozen meat was even defrosted using a heating cannon", according to the group Sofortmaßnahmen, to whom the tip-off was also leaked. 

The conditions in this illegal butcher's shop are a scandal. Hygiene standards were literally trampled underfoot.

Walter Hillerer, Leiter der Gruppe Sofortmaßnahmen

Further steps initiated by the magistrate
Food samples were taken to determine the exact extent of the condition of the meat. Due to the violations found, further steps will be taken by the municipal district office.

 "Meat was stored on the floor at unacceptably high temperatures and defrosted using heating cannons - this is an irresponsible and massive health hazard. This meat will now be destroyed and those responsible brought to justice," said Walter Hillerer, Head of the Emergency Measures Group.