Expired Eggs and Prohibited Food in School Buffets

Following a case of food poisoning reported at School No. 5 in Artashat, the head of the National Center for Food Safety has initiated control measures in public catering facilities operating in educational institutions across all regions of the country and in the capital.

As of December 3, inspections have been conducted in 37 schools and kindergartens throughout the republic. In Yerevan, at schools named after Gaik Bzhshkyants (No. 129), Ruben Mironyan (No. 77), Hovhannes Poghosyan (No. 82), and Anton Chekhov (No. 55), violations were found including poorly marked and cream pastries, which are prohibited for sale on school premises, pizzas and hot dogs stored improperly, along with violations of sanitary and hygiene standards.

In Gegharkunik, at secondary schools No. 1 in the Red village of Gavarr and No. 4 in Chambarak, as well as schools in the villages of Gagarin of Sevan region, Upper Getashen of Martuni region, and the community of Kakhakn in Vardenis region, there were violations of sanitary and hygiene standards and food labeling.

In Ararat district schools Nos. 3 in Ararat village and No. 1 named after V. Sargsyan, violations were noted including bone-in meat supplied instead of the specified soft meat, 18% sour cream instead of the contractual 20%, condensed milk containing vegetable oil instead of local yogurt, as well as breaches of sanitary and hygiene norms.

In Armavir, at schools in Lukhashin and Tandzut, and M. Silikyan School No. 6 and School No. 10 in Armavir, there were also violations of sanitary and hygiene standards and food labeling. In Tavush, schools No. 2 in Noyemberyan and No. 6 in Dilijan reported similar violations.

In Vayots Dzor, School No. 1 in Areni village was found to violate sanitary and hygiene standards, with the school kitchen needing renovations. In Kotayk, schools in Geghashen and Argel villages reported similar sanitary breaches, and their kitchens also require renovation.

In Shirak, violations of sanitary and hygiene standards were noted at schools in Gusanagyugh, Karaberd villages, and Maralik School No. 2, where 90 expired eggs were discovered alongside food with labeling discrepancies.

In Aragatsotn, only rolls and natural juice are delivered to schools in Yeghipaturush, Nigavan, and Ddmarsar villages, due to insufficient sanitary conditions in their kitchens. In Oshan village's primary school, breaches of sanitary conditions were recorded, alongside unidentified cheese and salt with no expiry dates, which were destroyed on-site.

In Syunik, operations at kitchens in schools of Oxtar, Tsav, Vaghatsin, Darabas villages, and Goris School No. 6 have been suspended for major renovation works. Control measures are ongoing in the Lori region.

Warnings have been issued regarding the sale of products with labeling deficiencies in all schools, and in some cases, orders have been given to suspend kitchen and buffet operations for renovations. Expired food found has been destroyed on-site.

The agency reminds that public control measures have also been conducted in all 6 schools in Artashat, where similar violations of sanitary norms and food sale regulations were identified. At School No. 2, a fraudulent veterinary certificate indicating the meat's slaughterhouse origin (Form 5) was found, prompting a report to the Prosecutor General's Office.

“The process will continue, and control measures will be carried out in all schools nationwide. We also urge parents of children attending educational institutions to be vigilant about the quality, safety, and sanitary state of food served in school cafeterias or sold in buffets, and to report any deficiencies to the National Center for Food Safety hotline at (010) 20-60-40,” stated the supervisory agency.