The primary aim of the priority action was to check the microbiological safety of ready meals that are placed on the market by smaller commercial enterprises (e.g. catering businesses, butchers, agricultural direct marketers, etc.) with a best-before date of several weeks. In addition, compliance with labelling regulations was checked.

86 samples from all over Austria were analysed. 57 samples were rejected (in some cases several times):

• One sample was assessed as unsuitable for human consumption / intended use (microbiology)
• 56 samples due to labelling deficiencies