The General Directorate of Agri-food Quality and Local Product, which depends on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Natural Environment of the Balearic Government, has immobilized more than 500 ensaimadas sold fraudulently at the airports of Mallorca and Ibiza.

As reported by the Ministry in a press release this Friday, based on a complaint from the Ensaïmada de Mallorca Protected Geographical Indication Regulatory Council, a series of inspections were carried out. Thus, the first one took place at the Palma airport on July 10, and 34 plain ensaimadas and 21 cream ensaimadas were immobilized. On the other hand, at the Ibiza airport, the inspection was carried out this Thursday and 328 plain ensaimadas and 135 angel hair ensaimadas were immobilized.

From the General Directorate of Agri-Food Quality and Local Product they verified that the ensaimadas had been prepared and frozen by an industry outside the Balearic Islands, that they were transported to the Islands frozen, and that they were marketed as a fresh product, without indicating on the label that it was a thawed product. In addition, a sign with the indication 'Ensaïmada de Mallorca' was found at the Palma airport and, as explained by the Ministry, these products are not covered by the IGP.

Likewise, the General Directorate of Health has been notified, since both at the Ibiza and Mallorca airports, they found cream ensaimadas with an eight-month shelf life and this “could be a health risk”. For this reason, the DG for Agri-Food Quality and Local Product has begun to process the corresponding disciplinary proceedings. Finally, the Ministry has reminded that to buy an Ensaïmada de Mallorca it is essential that the consumer check that there is the mention 'Mallorca' on the product label, as well as the official logo of the IGP Ensaïmada de Mallorca.