SCANDAL / Children in nurseries and kindergartens consumed infected eggs and chicken meat. Shocking details that were never made public

Dozens of businesses buried tons of chicken meat and eggs when avian flu broke out in Albania, as these products were considered unsafe for consumption.

But what makes this situation shocking is an even more alarming fact: while the authorities on the ground ordered their destruction, these uncontrolled products ended up on the menus of nurseries and kindergartens.

These findings come from the Supreme State Audit (KLSH) report dated 13.10.2023, which was never published, as it could have caused public panic.

Journalist Alketa Çeku from “Ora News” managed to secure a copy of this document.

The report notes that the Municipality of Kamëz contacted the National Food Authority (AKU) asking whether chicken meat and eggs could be used in the menus of nurseries and kindergartens.

In its response, NFA stated that chicken meat and eggs could be used in nurseries and kindergartens only if these products were cooked at 70 degrees Celsius before consumption.

Meanwhile, on the ground, NFA inspectors were ordering businesses affected by avian flu to remove chicken meat and eggs from the market because they posed a risk to consumers. Paradoxically, at the same time, they approved that these same products could be served to children aged 1 to 6 years.

According to SSA, the National Food Authority acted with double standards. Inspectors on site blocked and ordered the destruction of eggs, while measures such as laboratory testing the minimal requirement to ensure food safety in nurseries and kindergartens were not taken.

The report highlights that laboratory testing of the eggs was not conducted before use, even though it was the minimal measure to guarantee food safety.

The report also points out that the Director General of NFA at the time, Jeta Deda, took no action to identify the risk and did not seek cooperation with international institutions to obtain scientific guidance on this critical situation.

According to the SSA report, the Director General of NFA, Jeta Deda, bears responsibility for this situation.

These findings from SSA are a warning bell regarding the food safety of children in nurseries and kindergartens.

Institutions may hide reports, but the truth remains: children’s health is not negotiable.

“KORÇA BOOM”