CONSUMER ALERT: DAIRY PRODUCTS COMPANY SUSPENDED DUE TO DISCOVERY OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
04.11.11 | 15:29
The sale of dairy products made by the Armfood Company has been
suspended on order of the State Food Security Service, after a customer
alert led to the discovery of Staphylococcus and other harmful bacteria
in goat milk.
At a press conference Friday Babken Pipoyan, press secretary for the
Service (a division of the Ministry of Agriculture), said that there
have been no reported illnesses, after one customer reported a bitter
taste in the milk, that led to the suspension.
Pipoyan also said that currently other products (natural yogurt,
curd, and sour cream) belonging to the company are being examined,
and it will be clear Saturday whether they contain bacteria.
(Staphylococcus produces toxins which can pass to the digestive system
and cause food poisoning, a condition that usually causes vomiting
and/or diarrhea and leads to dehydration. Such illness is dangerous
mainly for children and the elderly.)
Pipoyan said that the company's production will be resumed after
Armfood pays a fine of 300,000 drams (about $800), and after tests
have been completed to find if other products are at risk.
Staphylococcus was found in pasteurized milk, which according to
Pipoyan, is unusual.
Last year a case of intestinal intoxication caused by food (cake) was
registered in Vanadzor, Lori province; 28 people, including children
were taken to hospital. In 2009, because of the world economic crisis
in Armenia, the Government made a decision not to hold a monitoring
in enterprises which have less than 70 million drams ($190,000) money
turnover. However, if cases of consumers' intoxication are registered,
or if there is an alarm, the State Food Security Service is entitled
not only to run a check of products, but also to suspend the production
and even administer punishment. Once a year, the State Food Security
Service holds planned monitoring in all enterprises that are under
its control.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
04.11.11 | 15:29
The sale of dairy products made by the Armfood Company has been
suspended on order of the State Food Security Service, after a customer
alert led to the discovery of Staphylococcus and other harmful bacteria
in goat milk.
At a press conference Friday Babken Pipoyan, press secretary for the
Service (a division of the Ministry of Agriculture), said that there
have been no reported illnesses, after one customer reported a bitter
taste in the milk, that led to the suspension.
Pipoyan also said that currently other products (natural yogurt,
curd, and sour cream) belonging to the company are being examined,
and it will be clear Saturday whether they contain bacteria.
(Staphylococcus produces toxins which can pass to the digestive system
and cause food poisoning, a condition that usually causes vomiting
and/or diarrhea and leads to dehydration. Such illness is dangerous
mainly for children and the elderly.)
Pipoyan said that the company's production will be resumed after
Armfood pays a fine of 300,000 drams (about $800), and after tests
have been completed to find if other products are at risk.
Staphylococcus was found in pasteurized milk, which according to
Pipoyan, is unusual.
Last year a case of intestinal intoxication caused by food (cake) was
registered in Vanadzor, Lori province; 28 people, including children
were taken to hospital. In 2009, because of the world economic crisis
in Armenia, the Government made a decision not to hold a monitoring
in enterprises which have less than 70 million drams ($190,000) money
turnover. However, if cases of consumers' intoxication are registered,
or if there is an alarm, the State Food Security Service is entitled
not only to run a check of products, but also to suspend the production
and even administer punishment. Once a year, the State Food Security
Service holds planned monitoring in all enterprises that are under
its control.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress