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T Market central kitchen in Plovdiv closed over hygiene violations
The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) and the Commission for Consumer Protection (CCP) have forcibly closed a central kitchen in Plovdiv belonging to the T Market retail chain. Inspectors reported unprecedented sanitary violations, including poor hygiene, lack of product traceability, and the presence of food with unknown origins or expired shelf lives. The facility served as a primary hub for supplying prepared food to various locations across the country.
In response to the closure, T Market issued a statement claiming the kitchen was already being prepared for shutdown due to outdated equipment and economic unfeasibility. The company characterized the findings as primarily documentation lapses rather than hygiene issues. However, authorities confirmed that the immediate closure was necessary to prevent the distribution of potentially dangerous food to consumers.
In addition to the Plovdiv facility, two other food preparation sites in Sofia and Pazardzhik were also closed due to similar violations. The Association for Accessible and Quality Food welcomed the decisive action by regulators, noting that they had reported similar issues for several years.
Entities
Association for Accessible and Quality Food · Bulgarian Food Safety Agency · Commission for Consumer Protection · Consumer Protection Commission · Maya Manolova · Plovdiv · Svetla Yancheva · T Market
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Two additional facilities in Sofia and Pazardzhik were closed.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Inspections found approximately 50 kg of expired food.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Bulgarian Food Safety Agency closed a central kitchen in Plovdiv.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Retailers used false promotions to mislead consumers.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Retailers were penalized for discrepancies between label prices and checkout prices.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Consumer Protection Commission issued penalties totaling 110,000 euros.