Food safety officials in the Kotayk province’s regional center of Armenia recently conducted a thorough inspection of a public food facility overseen by the national body for food safety. The inspection revealed several concerns regarding the facility’s adherence to sanitary and hygienic standards.

It was found that the facility was not constructed or installed in accordance with established norms, which resulted in food contamination, deterioration of raw materials, foreign bodies found in food, accumulation of dirt, and presence of pests. These issues clearly jeopardized the safety and quality of the food being prepared at the facility.

Furthermore, there was a lack of adequate handwashing facilities as well as insufficient storage areas for the required quantity of hand soap and disinfectants. This raises serious concerns about the facility’s ability to maintain proper hygiene practices, which are crucial for preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and ensuring the safety of the food being prepared.

Another area of concern was the absence of validated weighing scales and the poor condition of the existing ones. Accurate weighing is essential for maintaining consistency in food preparation and minimizing the risk of under or over-portioning, which can have serious consequences for consumers’ health.

In addition, non-food surfaces in the facility were not well maintained and were not non-absorbent. This situation raised concerns about the accumulation and spread of contaminants, further compromising the safety of the food being prepared.

In response to these findings, the production process of the public food facility has been temporarily suspended. A deadline has been set for the facility to rectify the identified violations and ensure compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards.

This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of strict adherence to food safety regulations. Proper construction, installation, and maintenance of food facilities, as well as regular inspections, are essential for safeguarding public health and ensuring that the food we consume is safe and of high quality.

Authorities in Armenia are taking this matter seriously and are committed to ensuring that the necessary measures are taken to address the violations and prevent similar incidents in the future.

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