Employees of the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BFSA) inspected 2273 production, trade, and catering establishments between September 11 and 17, 2026. During these inspections, violations were discovered and nearly 800 kilograms of food were destroyed, the Agency reported.
In the course of the inspections, inspectors issued 109 orders and drafted 23 reports for established administrative violations. The operations of three establishments were shut down because they were operating without the required registration under the Food Act and maintained unsatisfactory hygienic conditions.
Seized and destroyed food of animal origin exceeded 750 kilograms—these items lacked identification markings or were past their expiration date. An additional 40 kilograms of destroyed food were of non-animal origin, lacking documentation to prove their origin or also having expired.
Of the total number of inspections performed, 1326 were planned, 124 were conducted following reports and complaints, and 413 fell under the scope of thematic inspections. Separately, inspectors entered 195 kitchen blocks in nurseries, kindergartens, and children's milk kitchens, and conducted 215 inspections related to registrations under the Food Act.
The control authorities most frequently identified food with expired shelf lives. Other common issues included a lack of labeling or origin documentation, improper storage, and lapses in product traceability. Inspectors also identified discrepancies in the hygienic condition of the facilities, the state of the buildings, material and technical resources, and technological equipment. Cases of operating without the necessary registration and incomplete record-keeping under food safety management systems were also reported.
The BFSA clarified that official inspections continue nationwide, and when violations are found, measures are taken according to their nature and severity, with the primary priority being the protection of consumer health.
At the end of July, the Agency reported that between June 22 and July 21, it had conducted 12,185 inspections in food production, processing, and distribution facilities. Some were thematic inspections, while others were based on citizen reports. At that time, 174,092.387 kilograms of food of animal and non-animal origin were banned and slated for destruction. During that period, the most frequent violations were again related to expired shelf lives and unclear product origins. Improper storage, lack of full information for consumers, and unsatisfactory hygienic conditions at the facilities were also identified.
If citizens suspect any irregularities, they can report them to the BFSA hotline at 0700 122 99.