Employees caught washing spoiled meat, authorities intervene and a crime against public health is uncovered

In a scene straight out of a food safety nightmare, Spanish authorities busted employees at a food distribution company in Palma de Mallorca allegedly washing rotting meat with bleach in an attempt to hide its putrid state before sending it out for consumption.

The discovery came during an undercover operation led by Seprona, the environmental protection branch of Spain’s Civil Guard, in coordination with the Balearic Islands’ Public Health Authority. The investigation, dubbed Operation Exspiratum, uncovered a series of disturbing practices that have now sparked a public health investigation.

Over 500 Pounds of contaminated food seized

During a surprise inspection of the unnamed food distribution warehouse in Palma de Mallorca, authorities seized 231 kilograms (about 510 pounds) of meat and food products deemed unsafe for human consumption.

Among the seized items were meats that had already passed their expiration date, some of which had been tampered with in ways meant to deceive both inspectors and customers. Investigators found that employees had been cutting away visibly decomposed portions of the meat and soaking the rest in bleach to mask foul odors and visual decay.

Falsifying labels to extend shelf life

But the deception didn’t stop there.

Once the spoiled meat was cleaned up and trimmed, a member of the administrative staff reportedly stepped in to alter batch numbers and expiration dates, giving the illusion that the products were still safe to eat. This elaborate scheme, according to the investigation, allowed the company to circulate food that would have otherwise been discarded as hazardous waste.

While the Civil Guard has not officially confirmed it, reports suggest that an insider within the company may have helped expose the operation—possibly a whistleblower who witnessed these activities firsthand.