Work was halted at Lithuanian companies after Food Agency inspectors were denied access to the premises during inspections.
The National Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) reported that when inspectors visited seafood producer Almantica UAB in August, company officials did not allow the inspectors to enter the site.
VMVT employees called police officers and requested the manufacturer to allow the planned official inspection to take place, but the company representatives still refused.
VMVT reported that company executives said they should have been informed about the inspections.
The EU public control regulation requires member states to regularly carry out risk-based, unannounced public controls to detect fraudulent or deceptive activities.
Food Agency response
As VMVT staff were unable to assess the status of ongoing activities, the decision was made to suspend the company’s operations.
Similar cases have been recorded before at other companies and have led to litigation.
VMVT deputy director Paulius Busauskas said it was important for companies to cooperate with authorities to ensure food safety and animal welfare.
“If company representatives have questions about our way of working, we are ready to explain and advise. But disclosing planned inspections to the organisation is prohibited by European Union law, the basis of our formal control. Only very specific and narrow exceptions are possible,” he said.
“We will not tolerate disrespectful behaviour towards VMVT inspectors and will take all steps to ensure our staff feel protected and supported as they carry out their duties for our country.”
Gediminas Gvazdaitis, director of VMVT’s supervision department, said this was an unusual case.
“Why try to avoid inspection? We cannot put the health of consumers at risk. Since inspectors could not check whether food safety and hygiene were being maintained in the company, we had to take measures to protect ourselves from possible threats,” he said.
“By obtaining a license, businesses promise to ensure the safety and quality of the products they manufacture at all times, not just during the evaluation period. We ask for your continued understanding and cooperation in order to protect consumers.”
After being suspended, a business can apply to resume operations, which will only be approved after a formal inspection has been conducted.
Several outbreaks
Meanwhile, authorities in the city of Klaipeda are investigating the outbreak which has affected eight people.
The patients reported having eaten tiramisu dessert at the same restaurant between August 2 and 8. Seven of them were diagnosed with salmonellosis.
An inspection of the restaurant found no violations regarding food handling. The ingredients used to make the tiramisu were also tested with no issues found. Other samples were taken, including from a company that supplied some of the ingredients, but the results are pending. The restaurant has been instructed to clean and disinfect its area and equipment.
Another outbreak in Taurage occurred among children at a campsite, with several children requiring hospital treatment for suspected gastroenteritis.
VMVT investigated the company that was supplying food to the camp residents, and inspections found risks of cross-contamination during storage and a lack of traceability of used food.
Eight people have fallen ill, the National Public Health Centre (NVSC) said in a statement, adding that a lack of hygiene measures among staff and children may have led to the spread of the disease.
Finally, the Kaunas branch of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases is conducting an epidemiological investigation into the outbreak at the hospital. The investigation is trying to determine whether the cause of the illness in the 24 patients is the same and whether it was caused by food eaten in the hospital. Patients are being interviewed and laboratory test results on the cases and the food they ate are expected soon.
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