Ministry of Health closed popular culinary establishment in Ashdod: "Ta'am Tavin"

The Ministry of Health ordered the immediate cessation of operations of the business "Ta'am Tavin" at 41 HaAmal Street in Ashdod, after inspections conducted at the site revealed, according to the ministry, severe sanitary violations and food production without a business license and without a production license. The Ashkelon District Physician, Prof. Natalia Bilenko, signed the order on August 18.

In the order, addressed to the business owner Oshri Avisaror, it was determined that the place must be closed immediately, with no food production, entry or exit of goods, entry of customers, or any other activity allowed. The Ministry of Health noted that a hearing had already been held for the business in May following severe sanitary findings and the operation of food production without the required licenses.

After the hearing, it was decided to postpone the imposition of the order, provided that the business would meet a series of requirements to which its owner agreed. However, in additional inspections conducted on June 3 and 23, the Ministry of Health determined that the conditions were not met. Among other things, it was claimed in the order that the business was not accompanied daily by a food safety consultant for the first two weeks as required, and that there were still deficiencies in knowledge and understanding of the food safety field and work was being done in a manner that could, according to the Ministry of Health, endanger public health. It was also noted that food was not sampled for laboratory tests and test results were not presented.

In an inspection conducted on June 3, no documentation for vegetable disinfection was found, and a temperature of 9 degrees Celsius was measured in the freezer, without a documentation and control form. In another inspection, on June 23, no documentation for the concentration of the disinfectant was found, and there was no control or documentation of the temperature of hot and cold food when it left the business.

In addition, according to the order, no evidence was presented that the food is transported in a vehicle licensed for food transport while maintaining the heating or cooling chain. Also, plans and technical specifications of the new structure were not submitted for the purpose of obtaining a preliminary opinion. The Ministry of Health noted that production at the current location was permitted under the conditions set at the hearing, and no later than August 31, but until the date of the order's issuance, no response to the inspection reports including the required evidence had been received.

According to the order, the business owner is entitled to apply to the Magistrate's Court with a request to cancel or change it, but the mere filing of the request does not delay its execution. It was also determined that the order can remain in effect for up to 60 days, and the Ministry of Health is entitled to apply to the court with a request to extend it for additional periods.