Alarm sounded in Albania after bacteria was detected Salmonella infantis in imported chicken of Romanian origin, intended for processing in a sausage factory in the country.
According to data from the factory, the specific batch, weighing a total of 6,257 kilograms, had already undergone heat treatment and was converted into products such as chicken sausages, traditional and smoked salamis, which were distributed to 17 cities in Albania.
Conflicting information from the National Food Agency of Albania (AKU) is causing concern. Initially, the agency announced that the contaminated raw material had been blocked, while in a more recent statement to the media it claimed that no quantity was blocked, as all the chicken had already entered the processing process.
Final analyses of the products released to the market did not detect the presence of the bacteria, according to the Institute of Food Hygiene and Safety. However, experts emphasize that the lack of sample checks on each batch of imported meat leaves open the possibility of dangerous products reaching consumers.
The incident raises serious questions about the reliability of oversight and public information. Who should the consumer trust: the initial announcement of a blocked raw material or the later statement that there was no batch on hold? Until there are clear answers, attention to food safety rules remains imperative.
