The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) has closed a site in Montana due to serious violations of hygiene requirements. It mainly processes poultry meat for meat preparations and sausages.
According to the BFSA's new approach to a cross-control model, in which teams from one region carry out inspections in another, inspectors from the Regional Directorate of Food Safety (RDFS) - Sofia city worked at the site in Montana.
They found severely inadequate hygiene in all production premises and adjacent areas. Additionally, limited access to stored food and raw materials in the cold stores was reported, which prevented their full identification.
Among the most serious violations is the simultaneous storage of raw materials and finished products, as well as other animal food and feed. According to the control authorities, this creates serious risks to food safety.
As a result of the findings, the RFSD - Montana has issued an order to immediately suspend the site's activities. The enterprise has been sealed with the relevant identification stickers, and the information has been entered in the official register. The control is carried out with the assistance of the police.
Work at the site continues. A full inventory of the available food, verification of technological documentation and tracing of the origin of the raw materials are pending. If products with an expired shelf life or without the necessary documents are found, they will be destroyed. Samples have been taken for laboratory tests. The results will determine the subsequent actions of the control authorities.
The enterprise falls into the category of high-risk facilities and is subject to increased control. Resumption of its activities will be possible only after full compliance with hygiene and technological requirements, with particular emphasis on food processing and storage facilities, as well as on the equipment used.