In the first three months of the year, 66 cases of food poisoning

During the first three months of this year, 66 cases of food poisoning were recorded, which according to experts, is a consequence of the lack of inspections and non-implementation of standards for the protection of citizens' health. The Food and Veterinary Agency says that they are facing a lack of inspectors and control capacities.

1 One thousand 102 cases of food poisoning were registered last year at the National Institute of Public Health.

And according to data from this Institute, during the period January-March 2025, 66 other cases were identified.

Nutritionist Urata Rexhepi believes that these cases are a consequence of unsafe and uncontrolled food consumption.

"If we don't take care of what we eat and consume foods that are not safe, they can also cause other health problems. In addition to these risks of food poisoning, various allergies, lack of minerals and vitamins, which are very necessary for the normal functioning of the body, can also occur," said Rexhepi.

Food safety standards experts say that the control of food products and the implementation of standards for a safe market should not be treated as formal procedures.

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Expert in this field, Zana Sahiti, estimates that in Kosovo the primary problem continues to be the lack of inspections.

"Food safety in Kosovo faces numerous challenges, starting from the lack of inspectors, as well as limited laboratory infrastructure. In addition, inter-institutional coordination is often lacking. However, in general, we have the legal basis and dedicated professionals, but the inspection capacity needs to be increased," said Sahiti.

The spokesperson for the Food and Veterinary Agency, Lamir Thaçi, says that this institution has been seeking to increase the number of inspectors for years, adding that all officials are forced to work overtime in order to carry out more inspections in the market.

According to him, no food safety inspector has been hired yet.

"The new food law also foresees the creation of a new inspection body, which will be called the food safety inspector. In which sector, no inspector has yet been engaged. We are waiting for the recruitment exam to be taken. In addition to conducting field inspections, inspectors also spend part of their day on administrative work and issuing documents for economic operators, including health and quality certificates for products exported from Kosovo. Increasing the number of inspectors immediately increases the number of official inspections," said Thaçi.

Last year, the AUV carried out over 70 inspections and controls at the borders, while from January to April 2025, nearly 19 such inspections were carried out.

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107 cases have been initiated in court due to violations of the law, which were identified during inspections by this agency.

Days ago, the AUV also announced the suspension of the import of white meat from Brazil following the outbreak of bird flu in this country.