Illegal lamb meat in Vienna: 150 kilos under catastrophic conditions!

Illegal lamb meat in Vienna: 150 kilos under catastrophic conditions!

Wien-Favoriten, Österreich - On April 17, 2025, the city of Vienna carried out several checks as part of the “Safe Vienna 2025” security campaign. This measure was a cooperation between various institutions, including the market office (MA59), the labor market service (AMS) and the Vienna police. A note from the financial police led to checking a private household, when eyewitnesses reported possible illegal meat sales.

The emergency services discovered around 150 kilograms of lamb, which was transported under catastrophic conditions in the trunk of a vehicle. Further meat was found in the basement of the house in question, where the meat was obviously disassembled. The meat came from the Hungarian restricted area of ​​Soprone and at that time had a temperature of over 28 degrees Celsius. Due to the hygienic grievances, the entire meat was properly disposed of.

Legal measures and hygiene problems

Several advertisements were filed against the responsible man, among other things because of unauthorized commercial exercise, hygienic grievances, illegal energy deprivation and social abuse. Walter Hillerer, head of the team of operations, emphasized the danger of the situation and praised the collaboration with the financial police when investigating the case.

A similar incident occurred only a day later in Vienna favorites, where an illegal butcher was uncovered in a former carpentry. Three undeclared workers were found in this use. The investigators found serious violations of hygiene regulations and food safety. Several hundred kilograms of meat were stored under inadmissible conditions in the strongly neglected premises, whereby the cooling options were not used. Frozen meat was thawed with a heating cannon and partially stored directly on the floor, which violates the basic hygiene requirements.

legal framework conditions

EU hygiene law is binding for all food companies to ensure the safety of the food placed on the market. Hygienic requirements are determined under the EU regulations (EC) No. 852/2004 and No. 853/2004, which also include the training of staff in health risks and food hygiene. The principles of the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) require systematic identification and avoidance of risks in food production.

The current incidents of illegal meat sales and the associated hygienic grievances illustrate the urgent need for strict controls and compliance with food hygiene regulations. In particular, the sale of food of animal origin from non -approved companies is limited to exceptional cases, and all companies are obliged to responsibility for food safety.

Compliance with hygiene and safety regulations is crucial to protect consumers' health. In view of the repeated violations, the competent authorities must increasingly take measures to act against such illegal activities and disregard for food law regulations.