Regulator halts operations at Armavir restaurant following 12 cases of food poisoning

YEREVAN, September 9. /ARКА/. After an evaluation by the Food Safety Inspectorate, the operation of the Armavir Garden catering establishment in the town of Armavir, owned by individual entrepreneur Zaven Shahikyan, have been suspended, as reported by the regulator's press service.

The previous day, 12 individuals sought medical assistance in Armavir with a diagnosis of "food poisoning" after dining at the Armavir Garden catering establishment: two individuals after consuming mushroom soup, and ten individuals after partaking in chicken wings, chicken salad, and chicken pizza. Among these, eight individuals were admitted to the hospital in moderate condition.

The Inspectorate indicated that the inspections uncovered violations of the sanitary standards mandated by law.

Specifically:

The food preparation areas were not designed and situated in a way that would facilitate proper hygiene practices and prevent the buildup of undesirable dirt.

There was an absence of a changing area for staff.

The walls were not constructed to be washable and disinfectable.

The ceiling was not designed to avert the risk of particles falling.

The refrigerator shelves were not easily cleanable and disinfectable, were not made from non-corrosive materials, and were not kept in satisfactory condition.

A timeline has been established for rectifying the violations. The inspection authority collected samples of raw chicken, chicken wings, chicken salad, and chicken pizza for laboratory analysis the previous day, with results to be disclosed later.-0-