The Bavarian butcher shop owned by Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) has ceased operations in Haibach. The closure occurred shortly after consumer advocacy group Foodwatch formally requested the release of the shop’s inspection reports.
The business was officially deregistered on May 27th, with the shop’s physical closure taking place on June 1st. A spokesperson for Minister Rainer confirmed this timeline, stating the decision to close was due to legal stipulations preventing federal government officials from simultaneously holding commercial businesses. The spokesperson also cited the minister’s son’s unwillingness to continue operating the business and existing personnel shortages.
The spokesperson emphatically denied any connection between the closure and Foodwatch’s request for inspection reports, stating the decision was unrelated.
Coincidentally, a routine food safety inspection took place on the day of the official deregistration. According to both the minister’s spokesperson and the Straubing-Bogen district administration, this was a planned, annual check and was not linked to the impending closure or the requests for reports. Minor shortcomings were identified during the inspection, including issues related to hygiene supplies, cleaning procedures, storage practices and floor maintenance. The minister’s spokesperson confirmed he was unaware of the inspection beforehand.
Prior to the closure, Foodwatch, along with two other applicants, had formally requested the release of the butcher shop’s inspection reports. The Straubing-Bogen district administration was informed of these requests prior to Minister Rainer’s decision to close the shop. The administration subsequently rejected the requests at the end of June, citing the business’s closure as justification – arguing that a right to access information only exists when products from the food business are actually available for purchase.
Foodwatch has filed a lawsuit against the Straubing-Bogen district administration to obtain the inspection reports. Chris Methmann, Foodwatch’s CEO, voiced concern that Minister Rainer closed the shop seemingly to prevent the release of the reports, raising questions about the timing. Foodwatch advocates for greater transparency and calls for the public dissemination of inspection results from food regulatory bodies.
