The aim of this targeted campaign was to collect as much accurate data as possible for a reference database, so that conclusions could be drawn in future about the apples available on the Austrian market and in schools. In order to verify the origin and authenticity of apples, particularly school apples, in Austria, authentic reference samples (from farmers, directly from the field) and corresponding market samples from Austria were collected.

45 samples (of which 33 were reference samples and 12 market samples) from across Austria were analysed; the data collected on the reference samples served to establish a reference database and were not subjected to any food safety assessment. Based on the reference samples taken, corresponding market samples (from the same producer and of the same apple variety) were collected from shops. 

One market sample was found to be non-compliant:

• Due to inadequate labelling