Violations Found at Three Lemonade Production Facilities: SANITARY INSPECTION AGENCY Halts Operations

The Food Safety Inspection Body has suspended the operations of three production facilities for carbonated and refreshing beverages due to identified sanitary and hygienic violations.

Operations at the "Nivur Lemonade" facility in the Nivur community of the Berd region, the "Burjua" production facility in the city of Ashtarak in the Aragatsotn region, as well as the "Kuchaki Lousagbyur" lemonade production in the village of Kuchak have been halted.

During inspections by the Food Safety Inspection Agency (SANITARY), it was found that in the "Nivur Lemonade" facility, the floors and wall surfaces were not made of water-proof, washable, and disinfectable materials. The SANITARY has assessed this violation as a breach of sanitary norms and has decided to suspend the facility's operations until the violations are rectified.

In the Ashtarak-based "Burjua" facility, more extensive violations were documented. Specifically, the facility did not rule out the cross-contamination of food raw materials and finished products, as well as clean and contaminated assets. The necessary maintenance and current repairs of technical equipment have not been performed, and proper cleaning, washing, disinfection, pest control, and rodent control procedures have not been conducted. Violations were also recorded on the surfaces of the facility’s floors, walls, and doors as they did not meet the requirements for water-proof, washable, and disinfectable materials. The ceilings of the facility also failed to provide the necessary conditions to prevent the accumulation of dirt, mold formation, spillage of particles, and condensation of moisture. Moreover, the equipment, tools, accessories, and containers in direct contact with food did not meet hygiene requirements and were not maintained in proper condition. The facility also lacked a changing room for the staff. The SANITARY has required the operator to eliminate the recorded violations and has set appropriate deadlines for this.

In the "Kuchaki Lousagbyur" facility in the village of Kuchak, several sanitary and hygienic violations were also registered. Here, cross-contamination of raw materials and finished products, as well as clean and contaminated assets, could not be ruled out. The necessary maintenance and repair of equipment have not been adequately performed, nor have the cleaning, washing, disinfection, pest control, and rodent efforts been properly executed. The floors, walls, and doors did not meet the requirements for water-proof, washable, and disinfectable surfaces. Issues were also recorded regarding the ceiling and upper structures. Additionally, the equipment, tools, and accessories in direct contact with food did not comply with hygiene requirements. The SANITARY also noted labeling issues in this facility: the presence of aspartame was not indicated in the product composition, nor was the mandatory label stating, 'Contains a source of phenylalanine.' The SANITARY has instructed the operator to take necessary measures to comply with the established requirements for the production area and products and has set a deadline for the rectification of violations.

Thus, the activities of all three facilities have been suspended until the identified violations are rectified.