Latvian authorities have discovered 18 tons of food products with expired or changed shelf life dates in a warehouse in Daugavpils.
The Food and Veterinary Service (PVD) said the products were imported into Latvia from Lithuania, where they were withdrawn earlier this year as part of an investigation into fake expiration dates. The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) in Lithuania reported via EU communication channels that some of the goods withdrawn in the country may have ended up in Latvia and the PVD launched an investigation, leading to the warehouse in Daugavpils. An inspection uncovered modified shelf life dates on products, some of which had been extended up to one year. The goods were imported to Latvia by the Lithuanian company MB SYSTEMII, which purchased them from another firm in Lithuania.
The agency stopped items with altered expiry dates from being sold. MB SYSTEMII was fined €1,100 ($1,200) and ordered to destroy the confiscated goods. As part of Operation Opson, at least 27 people have been arrested in Italy and Lithuania this year for allegedly reintroducing expired food into the supply chain.