Polish agri-food quality inspection on poultrymeat: physico-chemical tests rejected 52 of 94 lots, mainly for an exceeded water-to-protein ratio (W/RP)
On 1 October 2026 Poland’s Agricultural and Food Quality Inspection (IJHARS) published the results of poultrymeat checks at 141 producers and shops; irregularities were found at 66 of them (46.8%). Of the 94 lots tested physico-chemically, 52 (55.3%) were rejected, mainly for exceeding the maximum permitted W/RP ratio.
- Inspectors checked 155 lots for organoleptic characteristics (no objections), 94 lots for physico-chemical parameters, 266 lots for labelling and 32 lots for anatomical conformity. Labelling irregularities concerned 49 lots (18.4%).
- IJHARS points out that an exceeded W/RP ratio alone does not mean that water was added deliberately — it may have physiological causes. Additional tests did not detect undeclared substances that would confirm adulteration by deliberately added water.
- Labelling findings included incomplete names, missing origin information or missing graphics with the flag of the country of origin, no indication of whether the meat is fresh, frozen or quick-frozen, claims such as “phosphate-free”, and a use-by date given in coded form, e.g. “06/03/L2”, instead of day, month and year.
- W/RP limits for poultry cuts are now laid down in Annex VIII to Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/343, which repealed Regulation (EC) No 543/2008: e.g. 3.40 for skinless chicken breast fillet with every chilling method, and 4.05, 4.15 and 4.30 for chicken legs with skin with air chilling, air-spray chilling and immersion chilling. The method is set out in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/344: water is determined according to ISO 1442, and nitrogen according to ISO 937 and converted to protein with a factor of 6.25.
Source: IJHARS — Drób na talerzu: IJHARS sprawdziła jakość mięsa drobiowego (1.10.2026)