New tests confirm different quality of food

New comparative food tests in Slovakia and Austria have confirmed differences in the quality of products sold under identical names and brands, Slovak Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Gabriela Matečná (a Slovak National Party/SNS nominee) announced on Monday. The samples were taken from retail warehouses in Bratislava and Senec (Bratislava region) and in Vienna during the summer. Only 6 out of the 33 products tested had no differences in content. "The share of meat was significantly higher in products sold in Austria. We had a lower share of meat, but a far higher share of salt, a fact that doesn't please us as consumers, as salt increases the occurrence of cardio-vascular diseases," said Matečná. Lower content of cocoa was also found in products sold in Slovakia. Producers have defended the differences in content, arguing that local consumers have different tastes and prefer lower priced products.