Inspectors from the Piraeus Prefecture said yesterday that they had raided a factory that used animal feed to manufacture a coffee substitute.

The inspection revealed that the company had bought at least half a ton of barley that was destined to be used in animal feed to make the Fytogri coffee substitute.

European Union legislation bans the use of animal feed in food products made for human consumption.

Officials said they had seized invoices showing that the barley was purchased from a company that manufactures animal feed.

Piraeus Prefect Yiannis Michas ordered the 250 kilos of barley found at the factory, as well as 570 kilos of the mock coffee, to be destroyed.

The details of the case are said to have been forwarded to a prosecutor.