Inspectors from the Vilnius District Supervision Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Inspection of UAB „Handelshus“ inspected a warehouse in Vilnius, and found gross hygiene violations with a direct impact on the safety and quality of products, which led to the suspension of the company's operations. The company was involved in the storage, wholesale and supply of food of animal and non-animal origin to educational establishments.

During the inspection, the representatives of the establishment did not provide any information demonstrating that frozen foodstuffs and products are transported by refrigerated transport. The warehouse is not kept in order, some of the products are stored in damaged packaging, they were spilled on the floor and rodent droppings were seen around the warehouse.

„Upon arrival, inspectors found wild birds perching on the dust and dirt layer on the food packaging and even flying around the premises. There is a high risk of microbiological contamination from wild birds on foodstuffs. Traces of rodents have also been detected. The risk of contracting dangerous rodent-borne diseases from the storage of foodstuffs under such conditions is enormous. These animals spread infectious diseases such as leptospirosis, jersiniosis, pseudotuberculosis, etc. This is certainly one of the rarer cases where we have seen such negligent storage of foodstuffs which then end up in the kitchens of schools and kindergartens or in supermarkets. We will take the strictest measures,“ – said Daiva Ruželienė, advisor to the Vilnius District Supervision Division of the VMVT.

The boxes where food and bread are stored were found dirty, dusty and with old labels left on the boxes. It can be concluded that the boxes are not washed and properly prepared for the storage and transport of new products. It was also found that multiple, unwashed containers were used for the collection of food consignments, that plastic boxes with remnants of previously stored food were used for the collection of foodstuffs, that dead insects and parts of insects were found in the boxes prepared for the placement of foodstuffs, and that miscellaneous litter was found.

After the decision to suspend the establishment was taken by the FVO, it will only be able to reopen after all the infringements identified during the inspection have been rectified.