Food Violations Discovered in Four Artashat Schools: Expired Products Found

On October 16, the Food Safety Inspection Body of Armenia began control measures in all schools of Artashat. This information was reported by the Public Relations Department of the FSIB.

The inspections revealed the following findings:

At the buffet of Artashat’s Secondary School No. 1 (leased to individual entrepreneur Armenouhi Adamyan), expired food products were found, including improperly labeled dry pastries, and in the cafeteria, nectar that did not meet the technical specifications of the supply contract, sour cream containing vegetable oil, and yogurt products.

Violations were also recorded at the buffet of Secondary School No. 2 (leased to individual entrepreneur Margarita Nahapetyan) and in the cafeteria. Expired and improperly labeled chocolate bars, dry pastries, and popcorn were found in the buffet, while the cafeteria had expired yogurt and chicken meat that did not conform to the technical specifications of the supply contract. The cafeteria also lacked a ventilation system and dressing room. A fake veterinary certificate was discovered here, indicating the meat's slaughterhouse origin, with administrative actions initiated against both the meat supplier and the slaughterhouse that issued the fraudulent document. The results of this inspection will be published.

The buffet at Artashat Secondary School No. 4 (leased to individual entrepreneur Anahit Vardanyan) was not operational during the FSIB inspectors' visit. In the cafeteria, which provides hot meals to students, expired yogurt and chicken meat that did not meet the technical specifications of the supply contract were discovered. Additionally, ventilation systems, insect-proof nets, and dressing rooms were absent.

The buffet at Artashat Secondary School No. 5 (where students reported feeling unwell on October 15) was sealed by the Investigative Committee of Armenia during the FSIB visit. The cafeteria and dining areas need repairs, and the cafeteria lacked a ventilation system, insect-proof nets, while the dining areas had no sinks.

All expired products were destroyed on-site by the inspectors, and temporary suspension orders were issued for improperly labeled foods and those not compliant with the supply contract's technical specifications. Recommendations were given to remedy the issues, with deadlines established.

Today, FSIB inspectors will conduct inspections at Artashat Secondary Schools No. 3 and 5.

It should be recalled that on October 15, 2019, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Armenia received a report that 23 students from Artashat Secondary School No. 5 were transferred to the Artashat Medical Center with food poisoning. FSIB inspectors determined that the children's health deteriorated after consuming pizza produced and supplied by individual entrepreneur Anahit Vardanyan. Samples were taken from the pizza available at the school buffet for laboratory testing. The results of the laboratory tests will be known by the end of the week. On October 16, inspectors from the Ararat regional center of FSIB and those dispatched from Yerevan began control measures in all schools of Artashat.

The process is ongoing, and monitoring activities will be conducted in schools across all regions and Yerevan.