Over 330,000 euros fine was imposed by the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family and the Organization of Welfare Benefits and Social Solidarity to the company GIANNITSIS LOGISTICS S.A. for the food poisoning suffered by students in Lamia.

More specifically, the Board of Directors of the Organizationdecided:

a) the declaration of the contractor GIANNITSIS LOGISTICS S.A. discounted

b) direct financial sanctions amounting to 331,664 euros

c) the temporary exclusion of the company from public supply or service contracts for 3 years.

The ministry recalls that after the food poisoning of May 16, 2024, from the consumption of school meals of the company, as well as the fire at the GIANNITSIS LOGISTICS SA factory, OPECA immediately requested from EFET, the Directorate of Public Health and Social Care and the Department of Veterinary Medicine of the Region of Central Greece the control over the company’s production unit.

With the issuance of the EFET decision on the suspension of approval of the company’s cooked food production facility, OPECA decided to suspend the distribution of school meals to the schools of Lamia.

OPECA, in each new tender process, makes use of the experience from the management of the Program and upgrades the process of providing the service at all stages.

Already in the new Declaration of February 2024 for the school years 2024-2025, 2025-2026, 2026-2027 additional provisions have been made for the following:

• Full harmonization with EU law regarding the observance of hygiene rules in the process of preparation, packaging and distribution of meals,

• Strengthening cooperation with the competent control mechanisms (EFET, Department of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene of the Ministry of Health),

• Requirement for detailed recording of control stages by the acceptance committees,

• Penalty clauses depending on the type of deviation, its seriousness, any repeatability and the value of the contract, may amount to three hundred thousand euros (300,000.00) per incident,

• Provision for taking a sample from OPECA Inspection levels, in order to send it for laboratory control at the expense of the contractor,

It is noted that from the 2024-2025 school year the daily number of meals will increase to 231,062, with the program being implemented in 153 municipalities across the country.