Foodwatch is warning Amazon Fresh

foodwatch has warned online grocer Amazon Fresh about the improper specification of the origins of fruit and vegetables. The consumer organization has criticized Amazon Fresh for listing multiple possible countries of origin in its online store for many products such as grapes, lettuce or tomatoes - a clear violation of European law. foodwatch urged Amazon Fresh to comply with its legal labeling requirements. In addition to this, it urged the government to ensure better monitoring of online grocers.

"To see at a glance whether an apple comes from Germany or New Zealand - what is normal in your local supermarket must also apply to shopping in the online store," said Luise Molling of foodwatch. "If Amazon Fresh gives 13 possible countries of origin for grapes, it makes a mockery of the indication of origin. Many consumers want to know where a food item comes from - it's not only annoying, but unlawful that Amazon withholds the mandatory information on the origin of a product."

Online supermarkets need to be systematically audited for compliance with labeling requirements and product safety, foodwatch said. Since 2011, EU Regulation 543/2011 has required the designation of origin of many fruits and vegetables. If the products are offered on the Internet, this obligatory information also applies to the web pages of the retailer. However, the municipal and offline organized control authorities are not yet accustomed to the online world and are overwhelmed by the task of reviewing large online shops. The consumer organization therefore called on the new federal government to transfer the responsibility for monitoring online grocers from the federal states and local authorities to the federal government.

At the beginning of March, foodwatch examined the five major online grocers Amazon Fresh, Rewe Online, Allyouneedfresh, Mytime and Bringmeister in a comparative test, highlighting gaps in product labeling and food store control. The indications of origin for fruit and vegetables were inadequate or absent at four out of five suppliers.

foodwatch warned Amazon Fresh about seven items offered by the online retailer without a clear indication of origin (lettuce, paprika tricolor, apples Braeburn 1kg, grapes bright seedless 500g, tomato panicle Aromatico 250g, oranges 2kg and lemons 500g).

Source:foodwatch.org