Good afternoon!
If, like me, you like your food, then you will be a bit dismayed by a report out today. The annual survey of the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) shows that last year, 467 companies in Belgium had to temporarily close due to non-compliance with food safety regulations. To be clear, closures are only implemented when there is an acute threat to public health, typically involving several serious violations such as pest infestations or extremely poor hygiene.
At a time when we are all being urged to eat better, cook more from scratch, use more local products and generally care more about what we put into our bodies, it's particularly worrying that the increase in sub-standard food outlets is markedly up from the last report in 2024.
One of the huge attractions of Brussels and Belgium is that they have an abundance of places to buy and consume food of all persuasions, to suit all budgets and tastes. But we must not sacrifice quality for quantity. The proliferation of delivery apps and services can mean that the food sector seems an easier and more attractive market to enter for some entrepreneurs, but as your business grows rapidly, standards still need to be maintained.
It is up to us as consumers to make sure the authorities are made aware of services that are not up to scratch – as FAVV’s consumer complaint hotline noted, it managed 5,222 complaints from individuals, with over half leading to actions being taken in the field. So if we care about what we eat, then we should care about who provides it.
Coincidentally, Food and Drink will feature in one of the rounds of questions for tomorrow's (Tuesday's) Pub Quiz that we are helping The Full Circle club host.
Details of the event are here, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. Belgium’s National Strike: Disruptions expected across several sectors
A day of national action is planned for 25 June. Several services are expected to be affected including public transport and waste collection. Read more.
2. ‘New taxes are also option to boost defence spending’ – Belgian Foreign Minister
New taxes are "certainly not the first option" for his party, but they are one of the options. Read more.
3. One in three Belgians hit by drop in purchasing power in last year
A third of respondents cite continuous rises in health and housing costs as the main reasons for declining purchasing power. Read more.
4. The ‘National Conservative’ who grew up in Belgium—and won J.D. Vance’s ear
Despite cancellations and political pressure, a new generation of ultra-conservatives are making a push to sway opinions in the Belgian capital. Read more.
5. Heat and ozone warning phase ends on Monday
Authorities end heat and ozone warning phase as temperatures forecast below 25°C over the next five days. Read more.
6. New beetles arrive in Belgium, but 145 species quietly disappear
A recent study shows that 8% of Belgium's beetle species may have vanished in the last century. Read more.
7. Best in Town: Bakeries in Brussels
A weekend in Brussels isn't complete without a coffee and a morning pastry. Here's a selection of some of the best bakeries in the city. Read more.
