HEALTH MINISTRY WARNS AGAINST BUYING STREET-MANUFACTURED FOOD

ArmenPress
June 10 2004

YEREVAN, JUNE 10, ARMENPRESS: In a strongly-worded statement,
Armenian health officials warned the population against buying food
from open-air kiosks after investigating conditions under which food
was manufactured. The investigation covered only those food trades
which seem particularly dangerous to the health.

Marieta Basilisian, deputy head of a ministry-affiliated division
for supervising hygienic conditions of food manufacturing outlets,
said they examined 70 such kiosks in a Yerevan borough, finding that
almost half of barbecue and kebab sold there were contaminated with
staphylococcus. Basilisian said the findings of the inspection were
sent to appropriate bodies of the municipality for further action,
requesting that these kiosks must be closed.

The department has also started sending the findings to judicial
bodies. She said the health ministry is seeking an amendment to
the law on licensing so that a food manufacturing company undergo a
complicated procedure before receiving permission to operate.