Vilnius Poultry Farm shirks responsibility for unsafe products?

„Our commitment – is to continuously monitor, control and improve all processes in order to give consumers confidence and ensure safe food“, says Sandra Vičienė, Communications Manager at AB „Vilniaus paukštynas“. Unfortunately, an outbreak of distemper in a kindergarten in the Marijampolė district casts doubt on this claim by the company.

The State Food and Veterinary Service (VVVT) came to the attention of AB „Vilniaus paukštynas“ after receiving a report from the National Public Health Centre under the Ministry of Health (NVSC).

Till 28 February 2025. On 28-28-28, the Marijampolė Hospital contacted the NVSC to clarify the situation. A child attending the kindergarten in Igliauka had been diagnosed with campylobacter enteritis. According to the NHSS, at least 4 other people had shown signs of intestinal infection. Although they did not subsequently have laboratory confirmation of campylobacter infection. However, the MoPHI launched an investigation into the possible outbreak of communicable diseases and took samples from the kitchen of the educational establishment, which confirmed the presence of campylobacter in the chicken fillets.

The MoHFW stated that the pre-school education department of the Igliauka Anselmas Matucis Gymnasium in Marijampolė municipality had received 18,518 kg of frozen broiler chicken fillets. It was produced by AB „Vilniaus paukštynas“ and supplied by UAB „Vigesta“.

VMVT experts also gave a reminder that Campylobacter bacteria are killed when chicken is cooked properly. It is important to ensure that chicken is cooked to a medium temperature of at least 75 degrees C. This will help to kill the bacteria and reduce the risk of contracting Campylobacteriosis," the MoVT noted.

Despite this, the VMVT banned the placing on the market of this batch of chicken and issued an urgent alert on the unsafe product, which appeared on the RASFF system on 13 March. The Vilnius VMVT unit was also charged with the responsibility of monitoring the producer, AB „Vilniaus paukštynas“, to recall the unsafe product from the market and to take the necessary steps to ensure food safety in the future.

„At the moment, no further information on the number of ill persons or the increase in their number has been received“, – assured the VMVT and added: „During the inspection it was found that there were no residues of the contaminated product left in the establishment (Igliauka kindergarten – aut. note). The establishment is working closely with the VMVT and the NVSC to ensure that such cases do not recur.

Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of intestinal infectious diseases in humans. According to the NVSC, infections caused by these bacteria are even more common than salmonellosis or shigellosis in many parts of the world. Economically developed countries are no exception. It has been shown that any food can be contaminated with Campylobacter through the hands of the person preparing the food, kitchen utensils, or simply from contact with unsafe raw meat.

Marks : Agricultural news, Enteritis, unsafe food, Vilnius poultry farm.

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