Buying cookies online may be illegal. ANSVSA warning regarding the purchase of food from Facebook
Buying cakes, cookies and other food products from platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok may be illegal, the National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) warned on Monday.
Buying cookies online may be illegal. Facebook photo
The National Veterinary Sanitary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) warns consumers about the risks associated with the purchase of food products sold especially on social networks by unauthorized individuals.
More and more food products are promoted online, but some of those who sell them are not sanitary-veterinary and food safety registered, do not have officially verified premises and do not comply with the minimum hygiene standards imposed by Romanian legislation.
“The online sale of cakes, muffins or any food products by unregistered persons is an illegal activity. No consumer should buy food from natural persons who promote their products on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, without having a legal form of registration, a laboratory or a sanitary-veterinary kitchen and without complying with the minimum hygiene conditions”, said Dr. Alexandru Bociu, president of ANSVSA.
Products made in uncontrolled spaces and in poor hygiene conditions can be contaminated with bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria or other dangerous microorganisms, which can cause serious food poisoning.
General recommendations for consumers
– Buy food products only from sanitary-veterinary and food safety registered establishments;
– Check the label, date of minimum durability/use by date, contact details of the manufacturer and storage conditions;
– Avoid purchases from unregistered natural persons, who prepare the products in improvised spaces;
– Notify the authorities when you identify such illegal practices.
Recommendations on the purchase of food from the online trade
For purchases made online (Freshful, Sezamo, Bringo, etc.), ANSVSA recommends that consumers pay attention to:
Before placing your order:
• Merchant identification data (name, address, phone, email).
• Product name, ingredient list and net quantity.
• Transport conditions, especially for perishable, refrigerated or frozen products.
• Existence of allergen information and nutritional declaration (where applicable).
• Terms and conditions of delivery, returns and complaints.
When receiving the package:
• Package integrity (no leaks, tears, damage).
• Concordance between the products ordered and those delivered.
• Thermal condition of perishable products.
• Integrity of packaging and legibility of labels.
• Minimum durability date / best before date.
• Tax receipt, useful in case of a complaint.
Marketing of pork and pork products
As regards the trade in pork and pork products, it must comply with the rules laid down by national and European legislation on the control of Trichinella in pork, as well as the sanitary-veterinary regulations on African swine fever (ASF).
Therefore, it is prohibited to trade – including online trade – pork and pork products from the slaughter of pigs raised in holdings with non-compliant status in relation to African swine fever, as defined in the Specific Norms for the Application of Law no. 122/2023 regarding pig farms and combating African swine fever in Romania, approved by ANSVSA Order no. 130/2023.
Trade in pork products obtained from pigs reared in holdings with non-compliant status is only allowed if these products have undergone a treatment to mitigate the risk of ASF, according to European legislation governing this disease.
Trade is allowed, including online, with pork and pork products resulting from slaughtering in slaughterhouses of pigs raised in holdings with compliant status as defined in the above-mentioned normative act, but only from authorized/registered sanitary, veterinary and food safety units, in compliance with the hygiene conditions regarding marketing and transport, including the provision of the cold chain.
Warning regarding online trading of live animals and birds
The purchase of live animals or birds through online ads from unauthorized persons is strictly not recommended. In the absence of adequate sanitary-veterinary control, such transactions can contribute to the spread of major impact diseases – such as ASF, bird flu or other communicable diseases – endangering farms, households and national food safety.
ANSVSA recommends purchasing animals exclusively from authorized units and holdings.
“Food safety is a fundamental element for protecting public health. Responsible and informed purchases contribute to disease prevention and combating illegal practices in the online environment“reminds ANSVSA.
