NFA Allows “Sori-Al” to Resume Operations After Case Involving 64 Students: Tests Within Permitted Limits

The National Food Authority has lifted the suspension imposed on catering company “Sori-Al”, allowing it to resume operations. The company’s activity had been halted following suspicions of food poisoning involving 64 students from the Security Academy at the end of June.

The decision to lift the suspension was made after inspections launched to determine the causes of the incident were completed. According to the NFA, laboratory analyses of food samples and checks of hygiene conditions at the company’s premises produced results within the permitted food safety limits.

Further inspections also showed that the company had met its legal obligations and the standards required to continue operating.

The company’s own monitoring tests of its work premises, equipment and employees were also found to comply with the legal requirements in force, the NFA said.

In its official statement, the National Food Authority said that, in the interest of transparency and informing the public about suspicions of food poisoning involving several trainees at the Security Academy in Sauk, it collected 14 samples from lunch and dinner meals at the “Skënderbej” Garrison in Tirana on 25.06.2026, as well as five swab samples to assess the hygiene of premises and equipment.

The ISUV Reference Laboratory announced that the analysis of a total of 33 samples for microbiological indicators was completed, with results within the permitted limits.

As part of the continued handling of the matter concerning “Sori-Al”, which operates at the Armed Forces Academy, “Skënderbej” Garrison, the company carried out self-monitoring analyses using environmental swabs of its premises, equipment and employees. All results complied with legal requirements.

After the company notified the authority of the self-monitoring test results, the NFA carried out another inspection at the Armed Forces Academy, “Skënderbej” Garrison, on 10.07.2026. During this inspection, three additional environmental swab samples were taken and sent to the ISUV laboratory for analysis.

After these analyses also confirmed that hygiene and food safety conditions had been met, together with the compliant results of the official samples taken on 25.06.2026 and 10.07.2026, the NFA decided to allow “Sori-Al” to resume operations. The food business operator is now permitted to continue preparing food in the kitchen located within the premises of the “Skënderbej” Garrison.