The Czech food safety watchdog has accused Tesco of selling chocolate with misleading labelling that fails to meet the country’s official definition on the product.
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According to the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Agency, when the country’s governmental watchdog tested a sample of Tesco’s milk chocolate, it found the product contained only 16.8% cocoa solids.
The minimum legal requirement for cocoa content is 25%; the label on Tesco’s products claimed they contained 30% cocoa solids. The Tesco chocolate also contained more vegetable fat – 11.5% – than the legal maximum of 5%.
“Tesco therefore sold foodstuffs which mislead consumers,” the CAFIA said.
Tesco imported 36,000 pieces of chocolate in the batch which was tested by the CAFIA. A significant part was sold to consumers before the control action, but the CAFIA has forced Tesco to withdraw the remaining affected chocolate products from its Czech stores.
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By GlobalDataThe CAFIA has also initiated administrative proceedings against the retailer.
When contacted by just-food today (11 June) Tesco declined to comment on the recall. However a spokesperson for the company emphasised the group’s commitment to quality. “We endeavour to ensure that our manufacturers and suppliers produce foods of the highest quality for our consumers around the world,” the spokesperson said.
The chocolate was produced for Tesco by Polish company ZWC Millano K. Kotas.
