The case, which has already been called the “Lidl scandal”, began with signals from farmers from Łowicz. In one of the Lidl stores, they came across ham from Spain marked with the Polish flag and the “Polish product” logo. Photos of the product quickly circulated on social media, causing a wave of criticism.
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As reported by “Portal Spożywczy”, the Ministry of Agriculture commissioned the Trade Inspection to inspect Lidl, which confirmed that in one case there was incorrect labeling.
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The “Polish product” mark is intended to help consumers identify products made from domestic raw materials. Its incorrect use undermines trust in the markings and may mislead customers.
Is Lidl cheating customers? The Spanish ham scandal and the minister's reaction
In the era of growing consumer awareness and support for local producers, such situations arouse great emotions and require quick explanation.
Lidl, in a statement quoted by “Portal Spożywczy”, admitted that the error resulted from the supplier's mistake.
“The scale of the problem was approximately 0.2%, which is why the error was not detected during the inspection of the entire packaging and labeling process and at subsequent stages of distribution,” the chain said in a statement.
Lidl said it immediately withdrew the product from sale and emphasized its commitment to transparency and quality.
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The Sokołów company, the producer of the disputed ham, also spoke out. “The meat delivered to our client, marked with a label with the symbol 'Polish Product', was obtained from Polish raw material. We firmly declare that it was not intentional and we regret that such a situation occurred,” said the Sokołów company, whose explanations are quoted by “Portal Spożywczy”.
The company implemented additional training for employees to avoid similar mistakes in the future.
