The best - in milk bars and fast food outlets, the worst - where we spend holidays and vacation. Reservations were raised by nearly 80 percent of food outlets inspected by the Trade Inspection by request of UOKiK

– The cleaner gives the chicken with a dirty rag - fortunately it is not a description of one of the Polish restaurants, but a quote from the cult comedy by Stanislaw Bareja. Recent results of inspection carried out by the Trade Inspection by request of UOKiK show that there are irregularities that should arouse the vigilance of every consumer.

As commissioned by UOKiK, the Trade Inspection has inspected 424 food outlets: restaurants, clubs, bars at railway stations, milk bars, fast food outlets within the network, food serving outlets in the summer and winter recreation resorts. Irregularities were found in nearly 80 percent of inspected establishments. Milk bars and fast food outlets were ranked as the best. The survey included checking whether consumers get the quantity of products they have ordered, whether the waiters properly give the change and receipts, whether every bar has a price list indicating the weight of food, volume and ingredients of beverages.

Unreliable service

Instead of cod - cheaper saithe, and instead of juice - a drink or nectar, salad about half a kilo lighter than the mass declared on the menu, bill overcharged by PLN 17 – these are some of the irregularities in the reliability of service. Most reservations were identified in almost every third restaurant and club, the least - in the facilities at the stations. Most questioned were the lowering weight of food, essences of coffee, and alcohol in the drinks - however, the payment was charged as if the dish was in line with the declaration referred to in the menu. In addition, inspectors questioned the use of cheaper ingredients, e.g. one of the restaurants offered high-end coffee in the menu and in fact served the cheaper, in another - instead of oscypek - smoked cheese was served. In some restaurants the waiters automatically charged a fee for service without first informing the customer. Advice: when ordering a meal in a restaurant, one concludes an agreement. The customer is obliged to pay a restaurant to perform services under the agreement. If it was performed inappropriately (e.g. lack of olives in the pizza, cold food, long waiting time, exaggerated bill, service credited without our consent), we have the right to complaint. We should report irregularities immediately after service. We may request a meal in accordance with the order or a price reduction. If the waiter adds the service fee to the bill, he must inform the consumer about it in advance.

As commissioned by UOKiK, the Trade Inspection has inspected 424 food outlets. Irregularities were found in nearly 80 percent of inspected establishments. Milk bars and fast food outlets were ranked as the best.

Information about the price

In every food serving establishments we must find the price list, menu along with the information about the weight of food and beverage volume and the date of its preparation. It should be located inside or outside the premises. In every other restaurant, night club, facility located in regions of summer and winter recreation or at the station this obligation was not respected. The best in this regard were the milk bars. It is comforting that during the inspection the owners completed the missing data. Advice: Know the price when placing an order, and not only when paying the bill. Price list has to be placed in a generally accessible place. What should it include? First of all, the date of issue, name of food, its quantity and content of the main component (e.g. dumplings - 7 pieces, juice - 350 ml, chicken salad - 100 g of meat, drink - 20 ml of alcohol).

Food storing

Freezing of products that should be stored at the temperature above 0°C, inadequate segregation in the refrigerator, out-dated goods – these are examples of irregularities noted by the Inspectors in this regard. Most objections were found in every fifth place of summer or winter holiday. The best were food outlets at the railway stations, network fast food outlets. Most goods reported overdue were at the restaurants and clubs (one in five), the least - in fast food outlets and milk bars.

In the food serving establishments, the following were questioned: the improper storage in cold stores and no food segregation: e.g. shrimp with raspberry, meat, chops; frozen dumplings past due for more than two years, freezing of cottage cheese, bread, smoked salmon. In addition - the inspectors also had objections to the sanitary condition of premises – in one of the outlets they found dirty kitchen facilities. Consumers also often are not informed that the dish they get is in fact de-frozen.

Measures taken

In the case of irregularities, the Trade Inspection may order: suspension of service, withdrawal of poor quality products from the market, suspension of placing on the market or removal of irregularities. The inspection findings gave rise inter alia to the issue of 18 decisions and imposing of 290 fines amounting to PLN 64,150. There were 262 notices sent to e.g. the law enforcement, health monitoring, the taxation authorities asking for appropriate actions to be taken.

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection reminds that any reservations concerning the unreliable service or poor quality of food ordered can be reported to the Voivodeship Inspectorates of Trade Inspection. Additionally, we may receive free assistance in execution of our rights from the poviat or municipal consumer ombudsmen. For further information contact the Consumer Federation at the phone number 0 800 007 707. The consumer councelling in Poland is financed inter alia from the bugdet funds of UOKiK.

Additional information for media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, Spokesperson for UOKiK
Department of International Relations and Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314
faks 22 826 11 86
E-mail: [SCODE]bWFsZ29yemF0YS5jaWVsb2NoQHVva2lrLmdvdi5wbA==[ECODE]

*The inspection was held in 2010