Bulgarian Food Safety Agency said it has tightened food safety inspections nationwide after identifying multiple hygiene and quality breaches, including in school meal programs, its Executive Director Angel Mavrovski said at a press briefing.
Under a newly issued order, labels on thawed meat and meat products must now indicate the date of freezing, Mavrovski said, in a move aimed at providing consumers with clearer information on product condition.
In a separate measure, the agency has reinstated 100% inspections on poultry imports from Poland due to salmonella risk. Since last week, controls against the illegal transport of animals have also been intensified, covering farms, livestock markets and border checkpoints.
Authorities issued 57 violation reports and 32 warnings as part of food safety inspections, while some businesses were suspended. Checks were conducted both in response to complaints and as part of routine monitoring, covering municipal markets, temporary sales points, weekly markets, fruit and vegetable vendors, restaurants, production facilities and wholesale warehouses.
Thousands of Products Sent for Destruction
Inspections led to the destruction of approximately 1,420 kilograms of animal and plant-based food, 2,850 eggs and various other food items. Most violations were linked to missing labels, unclear product origin, expired goods, incorrect labeling, lack of veterinary documentation and breaches of hygiene and temperature regulations. Cases of unregistered sales were also identified.
As part of animal health checks, BABH teams carried out 533 inspections, issuing 50 reports and 46 warnings. Illegal animal transport was halted at the Danube Bridge Border Crossing, with legal action taken against those responsible.
Following a tip-off, inspectors found around 100 tonnes of plant-based food in an unregistered warehouse in the Shumen Region. The majority consisted of undocumented soft drinks, while about one tonne of food was found to be expired. The facility was shut down, expired goods were earmarked for destruction and the remaining products were seized.
BABH teams also conducted more than 400 inspections of school meal providers nationwide last week. Laboratory analysis of 130 school food samples taken on March 11 revealed multiple violations.
Violations Found in School Meals
Inspections uncovered bacteria and mold in some breakfast products, quality issues in milk and dairy products, and sausage products that failed to meet child nutrition standards. Discrepancies were also identified between labeled ingredients and actual contents. In some cases, products labeled as cheese made from Bulgarian milk were found to contain alternative raw materials in violation of regulations.
At one school, inspectors determined that food had been supplied from a facility not registered under the Food Law. Authorities have so far issued 25 administrative violation reports and 17 warnings in connection with these findings, and ordered the destruction of expired products.
Separately, a third shipment of sunflower seeds from Argentina arrived in Bulgaria on Thursday. Samples will be taken by BABH inspectors in the presence of representatives from the Bulgarian Grain Producers Association. Tests on two previous shipments detected pesticide residues above permitted levels.
