The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (Mapa), the Federal Police (PF) and the Federal Public Ministry (MPF) in Pouso Alegre (MG) launched Operation “Alcanos†on October 20, with the objective to investigate the practice of fraud of adulteration of butter by the addition of vegetable fat in substitution of the cream of milk.
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The investigations were initiated from recurring complaints in the Federal Government Ombudsman System. Owners and employees of the establishment prevented the various attempts to inspect the Mapa at the site.
Faced with the impossibility of carrying out inspections at the dairy facilities, federal agricultural tax auditors from the 5th Inspection Service for Products of Animal Origin (SIPOA) collected butter samples in retail establishments for analysis at the Federal Laboratory for Agricultural Defense in Pará (LFDA) -SHOVEL).
The method of reversed-phase liquid chromatography and ultraviolet detection was used.
The results of all analyzes indicated the replacement of dairy fat by vegetable fat, use of sorbic acid/sorbate - a preservative not allowed by the Technical Regulation on Identity and Quality of Butter - and the presence of total and fecal coliforms.
“The fat for the production of butter must be composed exclusively of milk fat, normally cream. The replacement of dairy-based fat with vegetable fat constitutes adulteration subject to administrative and criminal punishmentâ€, explains the coordinator of the 5th SIPOA, Pedro Henrique Bueno.
With the detection of fraud in the production of butter, notices of infractions were drawn up at the establishment, which resulted in administrative sanctions such as the precautionary seizure of all products found in the establishments and determination of the collection of adulterated products at retail.
The producing establishment was also interdicted as a precaution.
Irregular earnings from counterfeiting were estimated at around BRL 12,390,338.48 (2.39 million) calculated on sales for the years 2021 and 2022 through July 1st. The Federal Police also found that, in the first half of 2022 alone, the investigated company acquired BRL 2,394,800.00 (63,000) in products intended for the adulteration of butter.
“The price of vegetable oils used to replace animal fat corresponds, on average, to half the price of cream, the only type of fat allowed for the manufacture of butter. The products purchased by the dairy represent the acquisition of 9,625 boxes of vegetable fatâ€, emphasizes Bueno.
During the Operation, two temporary arrest warrants were also served for threats to the Mapa server. Those involved will be liable for crimes of corruption, adulteration or alteration of substance or food products; casing or container with false indication and falsification of seal or public sign, in addition to a threat in the course of the process.
If convicted, they can serve up to 24 years in prison, in addition to paying a fine. ■