FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Dozens of children ended up in the hospital. The case raised serious concerns about food safety. The kindergarten was attended by 92 minors and had a staff of 19 employees. Although much time passed, the episode was not fully clarified.
It all started when one of the minors was admitted to the Gramsh hospital with clinical dysentery. Health structures were put on alert and examined 72 people. The results confirmed that 16 children and the psychologist were infected.
The scandal broke over the weekend. Despite the alarming situation, the inspection was postponed until Monday, with the excuse that the business and institution "under investigation" were on holiday. This action was in complete disregard of the law.
"You go on Saturday and Sunday and say it's a holiday, it's closed, the law stipulates that at any moment there is a risk you must go there, even if it's closed, to notify the institutions to minimize the risk, but if you procrastinate or neglect it ," said Ana Vuksana, a food safety expert.
According to the administrative investigation report, salmonella was found in the eggs. In fact, the issue is much more complicated. In a statement regarding the situation at this kindergarten, the National Food Authority informs that after traceability checks, it is believed that the contamination of the eggs occurred in the kindergarten premises by factors other than food.
The NFA explains that the sample taken from the egg producing entity has resulted negative. The same negative result at the poultry farm and the samples taken from the supplying entity.
The matter has remained at that. There are no further investigations to find the culprits. The responsibility apparently rests solely with the psychologist who turned out to be infected.
"We still don't know where the salmonella outbreak came from in that kindergarten. Every time the authorities fail to find the cause, this prevents improvement and taking the necessary measures ," said Ana Vuksana.
The investigation of the case revealed that the label of the chicken meat seized from the garden did not correspond to its invoice. For this reason, the garden was fined 300 thousand lek...
The history of salmonella infection is complex. Meat or animal products are the main ingredients of the menu of kindergartens and nurseries.
According to Instat, during 2024, over 66 thousand children were part of the pre-university education system, most of whom attend kindergartens with lunch.
The Municipality of Tirana, the largest in the country, has about 12 thousand children in public kindergartens and nurseries. Referring to a written response, the Directorate of Kindergartens and Nurseries in this municipality says that during the period 2021-May 2025 it has procured over 370 thousand kg of fresh chicken and beef. The institution states that it follows strict criteria for control and safety.
Only two children have been reported to have contracted salmonella over the past 4 years. They have been sporadic cases and none of the other children or staff have shown symptoms.
The case of the salmonella outbreak in Gramsh kindergarten is just one of dozens of episodes of this infection that occur each year.
Experts see food safety as a link in a chain of institutions, and not an attribute of just one department.
"The chain starts with the products that feed the gardens, meat, medical supplies, meat when slaughtered, hygienic conditions, disease control in the territory, refrigeration conditions, supermarkets. A very long chain that is interrupted time and time again due to overlapping competencies or the creation of spaces, a process that none of the institutions has the ability to control or monitor ," said Ervin Resuli, a food safety expert./ InsideStory
Lini një Përgjigje