German Politicians Want Jail for Rancid Meat Dealers

Some want the names of companies that distribute rotten meat published. Others say that jail time and heavy fines are the appropriate punishment. What most agree on is that stronger measures need to be taken against such perpetrators.

"A fine that currently runs up to 20,000 euros ($25,600) is too low," Gert Sonnleitner, president of the German Association of Farmers, told German tabloid Bild. "The punishment must be drastically increased in order to protect consumers."

Sonnleitner wants offenders' names published and a ban on such firms from doing business again instituted. Green party parliamentary leader Bärbel Höhn, meanwhile, told Bild that she wants the toughest punishment of all -- jail time.

"The black sheep of the meat industry belong in prison," she said.

Years out of date

German authorities last week confiscated 10 tons of rotten meat from an unnamed Munich company's meat locker. They also found up to 40 tons of suspicious duck meat at another Bavarian business.

Some of the meat was more than four years past its due date.

Authorities were also concerned because one of the companies storing the moldy meat has customers across Europe. Authorities said Monday that at least 26 companies were supplied with meat recently from the company -- in five cases so far, the meat was questionable.

Meanwhile no charges have yet been filed as authorities continue to test meat at restaurants, stores and food stalls.

Jail as deterrent

In the aftermath, there have been calls for stronger laws to ensure that such incidents don't occur in the future.

The only way to do that, according to Bavarian Consumer Protection Minister Werner Schnappauf, is to set an example.

"It is impossible to inspect each and every steak or schnitzel," he told German broadcaster ARD. "So we must then ensure that whoever plays fast and loose with the health of citizens in this way must serve jail time."