The Bavarian butcher shop owned by Federal Minister of Agriculture Alois Rainer (CSU) has ceased operations in Haibach. The closure followed a prior request by the consumer organization Foodwatch for the release of the shop’s inspection reports.
The business was officially deregistered on May 27th, with the physical closure occurring on June 1st. A spokesperson for Rainer confirmed the dates, stating the shutdown was mandated by legal stipulations restricting federal officials from engaging in commercial activities alongside their government roles. The spokesperson further explained that Rainer’s son was unwilling to continue operating the business and personnel shortages contributed to the decision. She explicitly denied any connection between the closure and the requests for inspection reports.
Remarkably, a routine food safety inspection took place on the day of the business’s deregistration. Both the minister’s spokesperson and the Straubing-Bogen district administration characterized this as a coincidence, asserting it was a scheduled, annual check unrelated to the request for inspection reports.
Minor deficiencies were noted during the inspection, including the need to replenish disposable towels, clean spice containers, remove an empty cardboard box from a freezer compartment and address a rough floor surface. The minister was reportedly unaware of the inspection prior to it taking place and his spokesperson reiterated that it played no role in the business’s closure.
Prior to the closure, Foodwatch and two other entities had formally requested the release of the butcher shop’s inspection reports. The district administration was informed of these requests before Rainer’s decision to close the shop. The Straubing-Bogen district administration subsequently rejected the requests for report disclosure, citing the closure of the business as justification, asserting an information request could only be valid if consumers were able to purchase products from the food business.
Foodwatch has now filed a lawsuit against the Straubing-Bogen district administration in an effort to obtain the inspection reports. Chris Methmann, Foodwatch’s director, stated that the timing of the shop’s closure raised questions. The organization advocates for the public accessibility of food inspection results from regulatory bodies.