They preferred to give up their vegetables rather than tell salads. During an unannounced control of the repression of fraud, sellers of a market in the 14th arrondissement of Marseille “deliberately abandoned their goods” on the spot, detailed the prefecture in a press release.
The operation aimed to verify the origin of the goods present on one of the largest markets between producers in France in which resellers can obtain supplies, who will then carry out the retail sale. These foodstuffs “find themselves exposed for sale on the stalls of the summer markets and at the small traders of the department” very touristy in summer, recalled the prefecture.
4.5 tons abandoned
In total, some 4.5 tonnes of tomatoes, zucchini, peppers and other fruits and vegetables have been abandoned and will be redistributed through the food aid circuit. The owners of the crates, which bore “no mention”, are not identifiable.
Seven criminal proceedings will also be sent to the prosecution against other producers for non-compliance with labeling or invoicing rules in particular, the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture said on Tuesday.
The offense of deception is punishable by two years’ imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 euros. But such an offense cannot be established immediately after an inspection, it requires additional investigations and an investigation taking place over time, according to the inspection services.