Germany reports findings from salmon and vegan cheese testing

Food control monitoring in Germany has revealed potential pathogens in vegan cheese and Listeria in smoked salmon.

Findings were presented at the annual conference of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) and the State Working Group on Consumer Protection (LAV).

Listeria was uncovered in samples of cold-smoked salmon. Potentially pathogenic bacteria were found in vegan cheese alternatives. Acrylamide was detected in dried dates, plums, and apricots. Tested dried algae had relatively high levels of cadmium, lead, arsenic, copper, and iodine.

In official zoonosis monitoring, 354 samples of cold-smoked, sliced ​​salmon from retail outlets were tested for Listeria. For prepacked products, samples were examined at the end of the use-by date.

Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 8.2 percent of samples. One had a germ count of 170 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g), which is above the limit of 100 CFU/g for ready-to-eat foods.

Results were an improvement from 2011 but older and immunocompromised people as well as pregnant women are advised not to consume smoked salmon.

As part of the nationwide monitoring plan, cheese alternatives were examined for their microbiological quality. A total of 375 samples of vegan cheeses based on almonds, cashews, walnuts, and nut mixtures were tested for various pathogens in 2023.

Presumptive Bacillus cereus was detected in eight of 357 samples and one of 339 samples was positive for Clostridium perfringens. Salmonella, coagulase-positive staphylococci and Listeria were not found.

“The results of this nationwide study show that pathogenic microorganisms were only detectable in rare cases. This is encouraging, as such vegan trend products are becoming increasingly popular,” said Friedel Cramer, BVL president.

Vulnerable consumer groups, such as pregnant women and the elderly or immunocompromised, are advised to avoid vegan cheese substitutes.

Acrylamide and heavy metals
The BVL said it had received many inquiries asking for an assessment of various food trends on social media. Claims included raw milk is good for pregnancy and Aperol is carcinogenic.

“I am observing such recommendations and statements with increasing concern. In the best case, they are simply thoughtless and negligent. In the worst case, however, they can have serious effects on the health of consumers. Serious reporting is a great help in refuting such false claims. We want to help combat disinformation by providing technically sound and scientifically backed information,” said LAV chairman Gerhard Zellner.

A total of 252 samples of dried stone fruit were tested for acrylamide in 2023. This included apricots, dates, plums, and cherries. Acrylamide was quantifiable in 152 samples.

Of the 99 apricot samples examined, 62 were sulphured and 36 were unsulphured. Sulphured means sulfur dioxide has been used as a preservative. While only 8 of 62 samples of sulphured apricots contained quantifiable amounts of acrylamide, 35 of 36 samples of unsulphured apricots had quantifiable amounts of the substance. Acrylamide was quantified in 64 of 73 dried plum samples and three of 13 dried cherry samples.

Finally, various algae samples were examined for heavy metals in 2023.

Ten percent of samples contained lead levels above 0.4 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), cadmium levels above 3.3 mg/kg, and copper above 8.52 mg/kg. In 10 percent of algae samples, the arsenic content also exceeded 37.6 mg/kg. These values ​​were only slightly lower than monitoring in 2018.

Of the 82 samples tested, 75 had an iodine content of more than 20 milligrams of iodine per kilogram of dry matter.

Based on the results and because seaweed is becoming increasingly popular, especially as an ingredient in sushi, salads, soups or vegetable dishes, such products will continue to be the focus of monitoring, said BVL.

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Source: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2025/01/germany-reports-findings-from-salmon-and-vegan-cheese-testing/