1,055 kilograms of prohibited meat products destroyed in Ohrid and Struga

During surprise inspections at butcher shops in Ohrid and Struga, the inspection services of the Food and Veterinary Agency seized and subsequently destroyed 1,000 kilograms of chicken meat whose import and use are prohibited. In the same operation, 55 kilograms of meat preparations containing chicken meat were also destroyed.

Following the violations identified, proceedings have been initiated against two butcher shops for the imposition of sanctions. According to the FVA, the businesses had failed to comply with the official decision banning the import and use of chicken stomachs for human consumption in the processing of meat preparations and products.

The agency said the inspections in the two cities were conducted as part of intensified oversight aimed at stopping the illegal sale of this type of food, preventing unlawful practices and ensuring consumer safety.

The ban on importing and using chicken stomachs in the production of meat products and preparations was imposed by the FVA in July 2024. The decision followed the identification of potential health risks associated with consuming the muscular part of poultry stomachs, including the possibility of contamination with pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, as well as the presence of toxins or other similar risks.

According to the Food and Veterinary Agency, the ban was based on a risk assessment of the threats that this type of poultry offal could pose to public health. The decision also took into account inspection findings that revealed abuses and consumer fraud by several meat-processing companies.