Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
03/23/2016
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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In 2015, fiscal caught him exchanging species, addition of water and other problems in one out of four samples collected
Replacement is made in higher value species and consumer acceptance, such as salmon
Playback / Gastro replacement is made in higher value species and consumer acceptance, such as salmon
Easter is not only time of chocolate eggs. The Brazilian also has a tradition of eating more fish during Lent and Holy Week - and that is why the agricultural federal tax work more intensively in the inspection of fishery products both in industry and in the supermarket shelves (in national goods and imported ), since fraud is more practiced at this time of year.
A special operation was launched on February 16 in eight states of the country. For the inspection techniques are used (visual and specific knowledge) as a DNA testing laboratory. In 2015, fraud were identified in 23% of samples throughout the country. But, after all, what are the kinds of "tricks" carried out with the fish? Briefly, there are three:
1- Economic Fraud for exchange / replacement species
2- Economic Fraud by abusive adding water
3- sanitary fraud by addition of chemicals that promote the water absorption of fillets, besides the use of substances that reach up to ten times increase in the product sodium levels when compared with natural.
The species substitution is made in those of higher value and greater consumer acceptance, such as cod, salmon, sole, conger eel, hake and whiting. In this scam, companies pack those of lower commercial value or even unknown in the country - as some imported from China or Vietnam. The big problem of this fraud is that the layman consumer does not notice the difference - and will pay more for a lower quality product.
A tip from federal Rodrigo Mabilia tax is to be aware of prices very 'welcoming' and are not compatible with that species. "A common case that we have detected is the use of panga, Vietnam captive fish, which is quite cheap, to replace noble species like sole and tilapia. The panga costs on average US $ 10 a kilo, and tilapia goes from $ 30 a kilo. So there is a big profit on the wrong consumer, "he points out.
Another makeup marks is performed by the water abuse in the frozen product. Brazilian law establishes the limit of 20% of glaciamento water - which protects the fish from drying, oxidation etc. However, the company must compensate with the net weight greater than that promised meat, ie if promises 1 kg of fish, then the package must weigh 1.200 kg.
This fraud, incidentally, was recently denounced by Protest - found that 30% of water in Alaska Polish samples, one of the most adulterated species accordingly. "We are fighting for changes in the legislation so that the water content allowed for the frozen product is 10%, as the consumer does not make sense to buy fish and bring water. The Ministry of Agriculture should be even more rigorous surveillance should be even more frequent and careful so that this type of fraud or makeup happen, "defends the institutional coordinator of Protest Maria Inês Dolci. The tip of the expert in this case is that the consumer always weigh the frozen fish package to check a possible error.
The third found fraud is the adulteration of fish imported by adding chemicals that allow water aggregation in the flesh, which is banned in Brazil. Such chemicals, according to the federal tax Rodrigo, are based on sodium, which increases up to ten times the quantity of food salt to that which would naturally.
"In Alaska Polish fillet, we can put next to a strong light and find holes in the product. If this is detected by the consumer, it should be immediately reported to the company SAC and the company should be denounced because it means consumption of chemicals even strangers. To get an idea, the normal fish pH is 6.8 and these products reach 9.7, higher than the baking soda and toothpaste, "says Rodrigo.
Cod (?) Easter
It is tradition in the country consumption of codfish in Easter. But stay tuned! You may be buying something they call "cod type", but that has nothing of the fish. Not to fall in the "vicar tale," stay tuned to the label: the scientific name is required by Brazilian law. To know if you are getting a legitimate, the packaging must contain one of three species of the genus Gadus (Gadus macrocephalus, Gadus morhua and Gadus ogac).
Some supermarkets have illegal practices to mislead consumers getting cheaper species like ling, Tusk and saithie. Maria Inês says that the illegal practice this period is quite common - and highlights some of the true fish characteristics: it is wide, high, is almost straight tail, slightly bent inward.
Attention! "Cod type" has nothing of the fish
"The color of it is straw yellow, not white. It has a skin that is released with ease. The consumer should also note that there are no red spots, as this is mold signal, "he points out.
Apart from the pack, you can escape the fraud suspicious of the product price. "The cod costs between R $ 60 to R $ 90 (per kilo), and these false are sold for R $ 20 reais. Some species and accept salting and are replaced, but it is disrespectful to the consumer, "concludes Rodrigo.
And now? What to do?
To avoid all these problems - both economic fraud both health fraud - consumers should ALWAYS get buy packaged products, with federal inspection stamp (or state). Also, when buying frozen fish, make sure that the package is securely closed and intact, to prevent contamination and deterioration. Remember that there should be no loose ice inside it - if there is a sign that there was variation in the thermal path between the producer and the place of sale. The fish must have the characteristic color of the species and be wrapped in a thin and homogeneous layer of ice.
In the market, the product must be stored under favorable conditions (counter with ice, capped off the sun contact, that is inclined and is not too full - with appropriate temperatures). The ends should not be dry or yellowish. In the market, take the fish at the end of the purchase and transport in a thermal bag and home, store logo in the freezer.
Report
If you suspect fraud, the consumer can (and should) report the product by telephone (0800 704 1995) or email (ouvidoria@agricultura.gov.br), giving basic information so it can be inspected by the agents. To the complaint, it may be asked:
1 Product Type (fillet, put etc)
2 Preservation method (canned, frozen, cold, salty)
3 Product Brand and manufacturer's data and / or importer (company name, CNPJ, address)
4 Registration number in the official inspection service
5 Date of manufacturing
6 Lot
Source: IG
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.