SaS: Tests on Dual Quality Standards in Food Manipulated

Bratislava, November 21 (TASR) – Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matecna (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) with her fight against the alleged dual quality standards in food used by large producers in old and new EU-member countries is damaging the good name of these companies, Opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) team leader for agriculture Jarmila Halgasova said at a press briefing on Tuesday.

“The results of the inspections were manipulated with a 100-percent certainty. The samples weren’t taken professionally, there were no equal production samples and the specifications of individual products were not evaluated. It also needs to be noted that the methodology of the analyses, for example, aimed at finding nutrition values, wasn’t the same as set by producers. This means the results and figures must be different,” said Halgasova, adding that she wasn’t given protocols from the inspections upon request.

In reaction, Matecna flatly rejected Halgasova’s claims, stating that the tests were carried out in ISO certified laboratories by the Slovak Veterinary and Food Administration.

“Conversely, I can state that Mrs. Halgasova from SaS could be and perhaps she indeed is in a conflict of interest, as she in the Slovak Food Chamber represents such entities as Dr. Oetker and Coca-Cola, which both were among those concerned by the dual quality standards,” said Matecna.