A planned inspection at a company supplying meat to schools and care homes in Lithuania uncovered serious problems.
In May, the local National Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) department carried out a routine inspection of the meat processing company Liamona UAB in the Alytus district, which supplies children’s educational institutions and social welfare facilities.
Testing of fresh poultry meat has detected Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in environmental samples.
The company’s activities have been suspended and more than four tonnes of product destroyed. VMVT said administrative action would be taken once an ongoing investigation has been completed.
Inspectors also found that sausages made by another manufacturer were being relabeled and sold as Liamona UAB products, misleading consumers: the sausages were made with chicken but were labeled as being made with pork.
Company officials said some other meat produced by the company did not meet quality standards and was marketed as top-quality meat products but contained mechanically separated meat.
In addition to product labeling and manufacturing violations, inspectors found unsanitary conditions in food preparation areas, cold water and some sinks that didn’t work, a lack of employee personal hygiene and signs of pests. Authorities also cited the possibility of cross-contamination.
Authorities said they found expired food, as well as unlabeled, untraceable and unknown ingredients and products of unknown origin.
Other Cases
In another case, VMVT officials inspected a kebab shop in Kaunas after receiving reports of the illness.
The visit was prompted by notification from the National Public Health Centre (NVSC) of two cases of food poisoning.
An unscheduled inspection of the kebab shop found food safety and hygiene violations, including a lack of traceability, poor cleanliness and concerns over self-care procedures not being followed.
Samples taken during the inspection are being analysed by the National Food and Veterinary Risk Assessment Laboratory. Drinking water samples were in compliance with legislation. Activities at the site have been temporarily suspended whilst investigations continue.
According to the NVSC, around 350 people fall ill with salmonellosis in Lithuania every year. Fourteen outbreaks have been confirmed in 2023. In April this year, 12 people fell ill in an outbreak of Salmonella Infantis linked to chicken from Poland.
Also in May, a scheduled inspection at a bakery in Šiauliai county uncovered problems with hygiene, food storage, ingredients and cross-contamination.
Inspectors found the food preparation rooms to be dirty, there were flies in the production rooms because they had no insect screens and the outside doors were open, waste was stored in open bins, and there was insufficient space to clean, sanitize and dry the production equipment.
The company was found to have 14 kilograms of unlabelled ingredients and unwashed eggs covered in chicken droppings in the freezer. Other defects included the cooling process for manufactured goods and the storage of raw materials. The company was subject to enforcement action, including fines.
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