Nearly 6 tons of food and raw materials will be destroyed due to expired shelf life and non-compliance with technological requirements, announced the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA).

The violations were found during inspections at a meat processing plant in Dimitrovgrad and in two cold storage warehouses at the "Maritsa" market between Dimitrovgrad and Haskovo, related to the same company.

At the plant, inspectors found meat products with expired shelf life, returned from the retail network, as well as discrepancies and ambiguities in the documentation for the movement of food.

It was also established that activities such as defrosting, cutting, repackaging and refreezing of meat for an external company are being carried out on site without a contract. According to BFSA data, the information on the origin is transferred to new labels, and the shelf life is determined after the refreezing, which is unacceptable.

Violations were also found in the cold storage facilities rented by the same company. Over 15 tons of raw materials of animal and non-animal origin were found in them without the necessary technological documentation and traceability. In one of the chambers, 1512 kg of food with expired shelf life were stored, and the room was sealed.

In another warehouse, the inspectors found over 3 tons of salted bacon without evidence of a technological process being followed, as well as about 1 ton of salted meat, stored in wooden containers that do not allow effective cleaning and disinfection.

Even during the initial checks, poor hygiene was noted – contaminated surfaces, compromised floors and walls, and insufficient sealing of the premises. Foods without labels and identification markings, as well as discrepancies in the accounting for animal by-products, were also found.

The investigations into the case continue, with additional administrative measures and analysis of the documentation pending.