The Causes of Poisoning at Armenia Marriott Revealed by VMD

The Food Safety Inspection Body (VMD) has reported that during a reception held at the French Embassy in Armenia on July 14, 12 participants sought medical attention after consuming food served in the outdoor area of the event, diagnosed with "acute intestinal infection." Immediate actions were taken to determine when the problems occurred.

Inspections were conducted at the Armenia Marriott Hotel, specifically in the kitchen of the Armenia Hotel Complex LLC. Samples were taken from factory-packaged chicken fillet produced by Arax Poultry Factory on 24.07.2026, locally produced pork meat, smoked salmon fillet by Food Republic LLC produced on 25.06.26, and smoked trout fillet produced on 08.07.2026. These samples were sent for laboratory testing.

As a result, the trout fillet showed contamination with mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria (MAFAnMK) and indicator bacteria from the coliform group (AČHM), while the chicken fillet was found to contain pathogenic salmonella, which did not meet the requirements set by legislation. Orders were issued for the ban on the sale of these batches, their withdrawal from the market, destruction, or reprocessing.

Furthermore, expired food items were found in the kitchen, including "Pano" toast bread (produced on 24.06.2026, expiration date 4 days past), "Pano" loaves (produced on 14.04.2026, expiration date 7 days past), flour (produced on 07.11.2025, expiration date 1 year past), and Parma bread without an expiration date.

Based on the laboratory testing results and to ensure traceability, control measures were also implemented at Arax Poultry Factory LLC and Food Republic LLC, with samples taken from the aforementioned products sent for laboratory testing, showing no discrepancies.