Lack of inspection devices brings risk in fast food
Vushtrri- Fast food has long occupied an important place in daily nutrition, and people are not aware of the risks that can cause this food.
Although Fatmir Tėrstena, owner of eating house "Golden 2" in Vushtrri, says that the food his restaurant offer to customer is always fresh, because he is supplied with fresh food items.
"I always serve fresh food to my customers and do not keep outdated food, because poisoning may occur especially during the summer season," he said.
He also said that his eating house is often inspected by the Department of the Sanitary Inspectorate and never was noticed any kind of irregularities or something else related to the food served.
"It can happen the inspection comes two or three times a month and performs food analysis," Tėrstena said.
Afrim Bajrami, food inspector, said that in cooperation with the sanitary inspector, "the food inspection process is conducted over the food safety chain, starting from animal slaughter and meat supply, processing, storage, preparation for serving the customer table "he said.
Although management of the inspection is faced with lack of inspection devices they say they conduct inspections regularly twice a month because they have only two inspection devices that seem to be insufficient.
“We regularly conduct inspections twice a month in all kebab shops, restaurant, kitchens, hotel facilities, schools, hospitals and warehouses stocking products of animal origin", Bajrami said. He also says that during the inspection they conduct control of uniforms, the expiration date, disinfection and deratization which is performed every six month. According to Bajram there are seldom cases to find food with expired date, because businesses every day and more are becoming aware.
"But in case we find foods with expired date we normally destroy it and subsequent fines follow ranging from 2000 up to 10,000 euros based on the law on foods," he said. Also he said that they as competent authority were trying their best to provide safe food on the customer table, and that they did the inspection within working hours, and as needed they did inspection out of working hours and in weekends.
In order to obtain more information about the risks that can cause fast food we addressed to the ' Institute of Public Health, "in Mitrovica, but we could not get there any information regarding this issue because they did not wish to talk over this issue saying they were not competent to speak for media.