New NAS checks of school canteens revealed serious irregularities in 1 in 4 facilities, including mouse droppings, mold and expired food. Following the inspections, fines were issued and seizures were ordered in several Italian regions
With the start of the new school year, a vast campaign was launched controls by the NASin collaboration with the Ministry of Health, aimed at verifying compliance with the regulations regarding school catering.
The inspections involved over 700 school canteens of all levelsfrom nursery schools to high schools, both public and private, throughout the national territory.
The results are truly worrying: 1 in 4 canteens, equal to approximately 170 facilities, presented significant irregularities. The most common problems concern hygienic-structural deficiencies, such as the presence of mould, insects and rodent excrement, conditions which could compromise the food safety of the foods served to children and consequently their health.
There was also no shortage of other types of serious irregularities, such as lack of traceability of food and omission of indication of allergens, a particularly serious deficiency, considering the vulnerability of children to allergic reactions.
The irregularities found led to investigations of 225 violations, which resulted in administrative and criminal sanctions for a total of 130,000 euros. In the most serious cases, the NAS ordered the seizure of cooking points, pantries and 350 kg of unsuitable food, including expired products, in a poor state of preservation or without adequate labelling.
Some managers have been referred to the Judicial Authority, resulting in ongoing legal actions.
In detail, the NAS documented specific cases of non-compliance in various areas. In Trevisoin an educational center for children, the lack of authorization to manage the canteen and the lack of health registration were found. The facility, which handled children aged between 2 and 6 years, was placed under administrative seizure.
In Pescaraa nursery was suspended from food handling and administration activities due to hygienic and structural deficiencies. Even in this case, the authorization to activate the canteen was missing.
In CasertaHowever, a supplier of meals for school canteens was reported for fraud in public supplies, after it emerged that meals produced by other companies were labeled as if they came from the company in charge.
The irregularities found in school canteens are a wake-up call that highlights the need for constant and accurate controls to prevent risks. In fact, it is not the first time that situations of this kind have been found in places that should be 100% safe for our children.
However, the NAS have already announced that checks will continue throughout the school year.
