Pieces of red glass lurk in Rösti balls. Rugby ball contains a lot of harmful chemicals. Horseradish and sushi have labels that do not declare allergens: Every few days in Switzerland, a safety statement must be issued because a food product or everyday appliance is dangerous.
Research shows that Migros has to recall most products by far.
Based on the Public Information Act, SonntagsBlick has received a list of all safety instructions from the Federal Department of Consumer Affairs (BFK) that became required between January 2020 and October 2022. During this period, a total of 359 products had to be withdrawn from circulation in Switzerland. 37 of them came from Migros. As such, the orange giant was responsible for one out of every ten products that should be classified as dangerous.
Why specifically Migros?
Basically, it’s no surprise that Migros has recalled more products than any other. After all, the retail giant manufactures and sells more products than almost anyone else.
What is surprising, however, is the huge gap with comparable companies: Coop, for example, had to recall only 9 products during the aforementioned period. It was even less so in Lidl (8), Globus (6), and Migros subsidiary Denner (6). Of the major grocery stores, only Aldi Suisse is in double digits with 19 recalls.
What are the reasons for this unflattering top spot for the cooperative? Aren’t Migros products actually an M more dangerous than “an M is better” than the advertisements make us believe?
Strong cooperatives, weak center: A new Migros is needed
Migros is at a loss
Faced with these questions from SonntagsBlick, Migros was sort of disappointed. The media office states that only “excellent quality of products, product safety and the health of our customers” are at the center of Migros’ quality management.
The company also leaves competitor comparisons without comment: “We don’t know the background to the recalls from competitors and therefore, unfortunately, we cannot comment on them,” a spokesperson said.
But Migros offers a possible explanation: the fact that different cantonal laboratories are responsible for testing product safety, depending on the company’s location.
Do cantonal laboratories have different levels of strictness?
At Migros, headquartered at Limmatplatz in Zurich, the authorities of the canton of Zurich are responsible for product safety controls. Coop is at home on Ren’s knee, usually controlled by the authorities in Basel. Is it possible for cantonal laboratories to have different levels of strictness?
“The different recall frequencies are not due to the different responsibilities of the cantonal authorities,” said Zurich cantonal chemist Martin Brunner. The assessment of whether there is a health risk is normally done in consultation with companies, cantonal authorities and the Federal Office of Food Safety and Veterinary (FSVO).
“This ensures that assessments are harmonized,” Brunner says.
remains a mystery
The FSVO also states that the legal provisions for safety instructions are clear. “Therefore, we have no evidence that companies apply different standards when recalling products,” says a spokesperson. The federal government Migros, Coop and Co. He doesn’t know why the difference between
The mystery of the recall record remains unsolved for now. Ultimately, Migros is committed to continuously controlling processes and compliance with specifications throughout the entire supply chain. However, thanks to this promise, Migros children should not sleep more than one M.