Violations Found at 'Tzirani' Restaurant, Reports SATMP

On the evening of June 11, 2019, just three days after a poisoning incident was recorded at the "Tzirani" restaurant, the rapid response team of the Food Safety Inspectorate visited the restaurant following a report on the poisoning. They aimed to ascertain whether any food remnants from the event were still present. No remnants were found, and oral directives were issued to address existing deficiencies.

The Food Safety Inspectorate reports that the following morning, an order was given by the head of the SATMP to conduct an inspection at "Em Bi Ji Grum" company (owner of 'Tzirani' restaurant). Although the sanitary and hygienic conditions of the company met the requirements set by legislation, expired products without labeling and inadequately labeled items (lacking Armenian labels) were discovered during the inspection.

Specifically, the following expired products were found: 6 bottles of expired Monin syrup, 2 tartlets, 0.5 kg of Finnish cheese, 8 yogurts, 1.5 kg of basturma, 1 jar of mustard seeds, 1 can of canned green peas, 25 tins of margarine, 5 kg of sudzhuk, and 24 eggs. Among the unlabeled products were 4.5 kg of frozen boneless meat, 2.5 kg of frozen strawberries, 1 kg of frozen cherries, 5.9 kg of frozen plums, and a variety of homemade alcoholic beverages including 17 bottles of homemade apricot vodka and others.

Additionally, products with inadequate labeling included 4 boxes of decaffeinated Malongo coffee (20 pieces each), 96 bottles of narsharab (fruit syrup), 6 jars of tahini, and several other inadequately labeled food items. All mentioned products have been completely removed from sale, and mandatory implementation directives have been provided, which have been fulfilled.

Additionally, the kitchen staff member in charge where salmonella bacteria was detected, according to the Ministry of Health of Armenia, has been temporarily removed from work.