The Guardia Civil has uncovered alarming public health violations at a supermarket in Las Chafiras, in the south of Tenerife, resulting in its immediate closure. A total of 25 tonnes (25,000 kilos) of food unfit for human consumption were seized during the inspection, which was conducted by the Environmental Protection Service (SEPRONA) of Playa de Las Americas in collaboration with the Canary Islands Health Service.
The establishment has been sealed off, and its owner faces charges for endangering public health. Additionally, administrative sanction proceedings have been initiated due to numerous irregularities identified during the inspection.
The inspection, which lasted over five hours, was prompted by observations from Guardia Civil officers, who noticed irregularities in the supermarket that posed a significant threat to consumer safety. Experts from the Canary Islands Health Service were called in to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the premises.
Inside the supermarket, investigators found a variety of food products, including meat, canned goods, processed foods, and frozen fish, stored in unhygienic conditions. Many items lacked proper labelling, making it impossible to determine their origin. These products were displayed on shelves, inside freezers, or in cold storage, ready for purchase.
Expired and Mislabelled Products
Particularly concerning were the expired or unlabelled meat products found in display cases and cold storage. Officials could not ascertain the composition or origin of the meat. Similarly, frozen fish was offered for sale in unlabelled packaging, with several items past their best-before dates or exhibiting signs of spoilage due to a broken cold chain.
Among the alarming discoveries was bluefin tuna, sold in two to three kilogram portions and packaged by the store itself without any labelling. Entire unlabelled tuna were also found in cold storage. The owner was unable to provide documentation verifying the legitimate source of these products.
Destruction of Unsafe Food
After a thorough examination by the Canary Islands Health Service, all confiscated items were deemed unfit for human consumption. The products were removed from the premises and will be destroyed by an authorised waste management company.
Article 363 of the current Criminal Code punishes producers, distributors or traders who endanger the health of consumers by offering food products on the market by omitting or altering the requirements established in laws or regulations on expiration or composition.
It establishes penalties of one to four years in prison, as well as disqualification from carrying out that job for a period of up to six years.