ATHENS - Greek authorities Wednesday slapped a 500,000-euro fine on Greek dairy giant FAGE for failing to inform the state and the public that it accidentally put thousands of mouldy yoghurts on the market last month.
The Greek development ministry upheld an earlier decision by the national agency for food control, EFET, to penalise the company, Greece`s second-largest dairy operator, for the oversight.
According to the food watchdog, FAGE also delayed its response to EFET queries, failed to destroy the problematic yoghurt batch before it reached the market, and issued false claims that it had solved the issue.
The case caused an uproar in Greece, where dairy products are a diet staple, leading to the dismissal of two EFET officials and a public apology from FAGE.
The company withdrew some 350,000 pots from circulation following consumer complaints and took out full-page newspaper ads to stress that mould was found in only one yoghurt brand, and posed no danger to public health.
That same brand, Total, leads sales in Greece, Britain and Europe, FAGE said in another release.
Greek press reported that FAGE also withdrew some 110,000 yoghurt pots from the US market and over 200,000 pots from European countries.
In addition to Britain, FAGE yoghurts are exported to Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands.
But whereas the yoghurt pullout started on March 15 according to FAGE, Greece`s food watchdog only began investigating the issue between March 21 and 23.
A preliminary judicial investigation is underway to determine whether FAGE and EFET officials should be prosecuted over the case.
04/27/2005 16:22 GMT