Entire Batch of Meat Tasted by Cat Destroyed

A video circulated on the internet showing a cat tasting meat from one of the meat stalls at the Gumi market.

The video was recorded by the Food Safety Inspection Body of Armenia (FSIB) and triggered an alert, prompting a rapid response team to head to the scene. It was determined that 9.5 kg of deep-frozen pork had already been removed from sale by the vendor and set aside for use as dog food. In agreement with the vendor, the entire batch of meat was destroyed by FSIB specialists. The vendor was instructed to sell meat only from the refrigerator.

The sanitary and hygienic conditions of meat stalls are constantly under the FSIB's attention, and the solution can only be systematic. Even before the incident was recorded, this morning FSIB head Gevorg Avetisyan had ordered a meeting with the owners of stalls that sell meat under non-refrigerated conditions to discuss existing issues and potential solutions. The FSIB will propose solutions, and if they are not implemented, specific measures of administrative accountability will follow.

Once again, the public is urged NOT to purchase meat sold under non-refrigerated conditions.