Column Judith Witte: Plea for more openness

Warning: this is going to be a gross story.

On top of the already opened package of coconut cream is a green gummy skin. The package was in my very clean refrigerator, but clearly for too long. It's my own fault, a gigantic layer of mold. A day before, I had returned a package of goat cheese to the supermarket. An organism was also growing on that, also the color green, but this time it was explicitly not my fault. Purchased the day before. Kept in a sealed container and with an expiration date that was still far in the future. The cheese was carelessly accepted by the supermarket employee. I got my money back. Nothing else was said.

Every year, inspectors from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) go out on King's Day to check whether sellers of food and drink comply with hygiene rules. This year, the action resulted in 49 warnings and 6 fine reports. That's what almost all daily newspapers headlined the next day. Things went wrong with not keeping the food on offer at a proper temperature. Also, insufficient information was given about allergens present in the food offered. The NVWA could not check all the stalls in the Netherlands, so it seems to me that many more vendors were not working in a very hygienic and food-safe manner.

We all know that eating on these kinds of festival days can be risky. Whether you're hanging over that bin puking because of too many alcholic refreshments, or because of that one burger, or those satays, will remain a mystery. Indeed; this situation is quickly placed in the "your own fault" category by those around you. Still, you don't have to celebrate King's Day to be at risk....

A selection from the last week of April: Jumbo Organic Whole Green Beans 450g, may contain traces of nightshade which may cause allergic reactions. Microwave Popcorn from the brand 'Snack Day' has been found to contain too much of the pesticide Chlorpyrifos. The AH Saladbowl green bowl may contain sesame; this is not mentioned on the packaging. Milbona brand natural cheese spread 20+ may contain metal particles. 

Companies are required to report safety warnings to the NVWA. The NVWA posts them on the company's own website for extra attention among consumers. Is that some kind of joke? What consumer will look there? If the defect is serious, the company must take the product off the market as well as warn the public. A little asking around among friends, acquaintances and family reveals that none of them know about recalls. 'Maybe it's on the supermarkets' websites? But I never actually look there,' says one neighbor. He still does his shopping the old-fashioned way, physically in the store. Where, incidentally, there are no warning signs either.

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Only after much browsing on retailers' sites do I find them, the "recalls. Without exception very well hidden, similar to that forgotten spot in your refrigerator, ... or production area. You might know the place, where microorganisms can run wild.

Judith Witte
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