Karlsruhe district food safety list remains incomplete

In the Karlsruhe district, not all food safety violations are made public on the so-called ‘Ekelliste’ (disgust list). According to the district administration, the legal requirements for publishing inspection results are high, and only a limited number of violations meet these criteria.

There are two primary ways a business is added to the list: through probe testing, where two independent laboratory analyses confirm exceeded limits or prohibited substances, or through operational inspections that reveal significant violations of consumer, health, or hygiene protections. To be published, a violation must typically involve a direct link to the food and be subject to a fine of at least 350 euros or criminal sanctions.

Certain issues, such as purely structural defects that do not affect the food itself or simple documentation errors, are not included. Additionally, businesses can legally challenge the publication of results. The district administration maintains that consumer protection is still ensured through enforcement measures even when results are not made public.