Avoid Buying Street-Made and Sold Cotton Candy, Says Yerevan Municipality

Recently, cotton candy makers and vendors have been frequently observed in the streets of the capital, especially in areas adjacent to recreational zones. This information has been reported by the Yerevan Municipality.

During our recordings, we encountered scenes of unacceptable conditions and violations of sanitary hygiene norms.

In the course of the Yerevan Municipality's efforts to ban illegal street trade in the capital, measures are being taken to regulate this type of commerce as well.

“Thanks to the measures we have undertaken, we demanded the cessation of illegal trade. Following our request, there were individuals who immediately complied, however, for some, it is a highly profitable activity, and they attempted to defy warnings at all costs, which resulted in their transfer to the police department for not complying with legal requirements. I would also like to mention that during a search of one of these individuals at the police station, a knife and a blunt weapon were discovered, and materials are already being prepared in connection with this fact,” stated Hovik Safaryan, Head of the Trade and Services Department of the Yerevan Municipality.

Despite warnings and violations committed by vendors, some lawbreakers tried to obstruct the work of the municipality employees.

“There was also a case of a person who came to provide moral support to these vendors, under the influence of alcohol, holding a beer bottle, and showed disrespect towards citizens walking in the newly opened park. The traffic police immediately responded, and the individual was transferred to the special area of the traffic police,” added Hovik Safaryan.

In addition to being illegal, this type of street trade poses health risks. Experts advise against buying street-made and sold cotton candy.

“It remains unclear whether the individual engaged in this activity has undergone a medical examination, under what conditions the raw material is prepared to make the ‘cotton’ which appeals to children, despite being a health hazard. Perhaps the individual engaged in this activity is suffering from tuberculosis, given that they interact with children. Furthermore, how frequently do they undergo medical examinations, how often are the appliances disinfected, and perhaps the containers are never disinfected? I would advise parents to categorically avoid consuming soft ‘cotton’ made and sold on the street, as this puts their children's health at risk,” noted Armen Galstyan, Chief Specialist and Inspector at the Food Safety Inspection Body of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia.

Although the conditions under which the sweet ‘cotton’ is made are visibly poor, many of our fellow citizens continue to indulge in it. During surveys, we heard various opinions.

To curb illegal outdoor trade in the capital, the Yerevan Municipality has issued around 300 reports on administrative violations so far.

“The fight will be uncompromising, and in this fight, we have conditionally divided the vendors into two groups. Among vendors, there are individuals who are genuinely in a socially vulnerable situation, elderly people, who face bread issues. We conduct informational work with these individuals, guide them towards markets, and take measures for the creation of new marketplaces. However, there is also a group of individuals who are determined to engage in illegal trade at all costs. We will be uncompromising towards these individuals, and we absolutely will not allow our city to turn into an eastern market,” emphasized the head of the Municipality’s Trade and Services Department.

In order for the administration to be more effective, the municipality will propose legislative changes. In cases where those engaged in illegal trade do not comply with warnings, the municipality will confiscate the products being sold. Meanwhile, every citizen should think about their own and their child's health by avoiding all kinds of suspiciously sourced products sold on the street. The elimination of illegal outdoor trade also largely depends on this attitude.