Chronicle

The blitz of the Carabinieri throughout Italy

Mold on the walls, crockery in the bathroom and expired food: the video of the Nas in school canteens

Carpet checks of the military throughout Italy: the fake Parmesan PDO, the toilet of a gym transformed into a deposit for crockery and kitchen utensils. Irregular refectories in 31% of cases, 9 kitchens closed

15/03/2023

The video of the controls of the Carabinieri of the Nas throughout Italy: irregularities in 31% of school canteens, 9 kitchens closed. The military found - among other violations - frozen products instead of fresh ones, a "fake" Parmesan passed off as Dop, even a gym bathroom transformed into a crockery and kitchen utensils deposit (in a school in Potenza), and even - so in a statement - a "pasta and potatoes", but without potatoes: administered to the students of an institute in the province of Caserta. But from South to North, passing through the center, irregularities are widespread throughout Italy: in an equal institute in Bergamo, the Nas have found the use of expired fresh pasta and flour with a shelf life exceeded by a year.

During three further checks in the canteens of as many school complexes in the province, poor hygienic conditions, use of expired foods and the presence of poorly frozen foodstuffs were ascertained. In Treviso, 40 kg of meat, fruit and vegetables and milk were seized, partly expired and partly stored in anonymous packaging: the manager of the restaurant was accused of serious hygiene and health deficiencies.

In the canteen of a primary school in the province of Pavia, however, water infiltration, the presence of mold, torn ceiling panels were found.

Three hundred and forty-one irregular school canteens, nine closed kitchens. This is the balance of the series of controls throughout the country, by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Health, in agreement with the Ministry of Health for the verification of catering services and catering companies assigned to the management of canteens at the institutes.

"The inspection activity involved 1,058 collective catering companies in school canteens of all levels, from kindergartens to high schools, both public and private. Among the companies audited, 341 showed irregularities, equal to 31%, ascertaining 482 criminal and administrative violations, with the consequent imposition of financial penalties for 240 thousand euros, contested due to violations in food management and hygiene conditions in the premises where meals are prepared, in the lack of compliance in quality and quantity with the requirements established by the tender specifications, in the regularity of employment of workers and relative possession of adequate qualification and professional preparation."