Romanian food safety inspectors have suspended operations at Brukenthal Palace in Avrig and fined the venue 30,000 lei ($6,500) after 30 of 80 wedding guests required medical assistance, 20 of whom went to hospital.

The National Sanitary, Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVSA) and inspectors from DSVSA Sibiu carried out checks at the palace this past week after several attendees reported symptoms consistent with possible food poisoning.

Samples have been taken to determine whether food prepared and served at the private event caused the illnesses. ANSVSA stressed that, at this stage, food poisoning is only suspected, and that the link between food products consumed and guests' symptoms will be established through epidemiological investigations and laboratory analyses.

What did the inspection find?

The controls identified non-conformities, and DSVSA Sibiu issued an order to suspend activities alongside the 30,000-lei sanction. The fine covered three specific failures:

• deficiencies in hygiene conditions
• marketing and use of food products without proper identification
• failure to maintain production and storage spaces

Inspectors also ordered the official detention of 15.6 kilograms of food products.

Dr. Alexandru Bociu, president of ANSVSA, said food safety and protecting consumer health are a priority for the agency. "DSVSA Sibiu inspectors are acting with maximum efficiency to identify the causes of this incident, and legal measures will be ordered as soon as the checks are completed," he said.

What does this change for operators?

For venue and catering operators in Romania, the case shows the immediate commercial cost of a suspected outbreak: suspension of activities, a cash fine, and seizure of food stock — all before laboratory results confirm or exclude food poisoning as the cause. The Sibiu action, together with the school catering case, signals that ANSVSA is willing to act on suspicion and tighten enforcement afterward.

Second enforcement action within weeks

Earlier in September, ANSVSA and DSVSA Bacău inspectors suspended a catering company linked to a suspected outbreak at Căiuți Middle School in Bacău County. A total of 26 children, all students at the school, showed symptoms, and an 8-year-old was hospitalized.

The students fell ill after consuming pasta with tomato sauce, chicken and apple provided through a meal program. The food came from a catering unit in Adjud, Vrancea County. Inspectors found non-conformities at the site, ordered suspension of activities and applied a sanction of 65,000 lei ($14,000) — more than double the Brukenthal Palace fine.

Dr. Bociu said there is no room for compromise on the safety of food intended for children. "The suspension of activity and the sanction applied in this case are measures that reflect the seriousness of the non-conformities found. At the same time, we must be very careful not to draw conclusions before all analyses are completed. Our priority is the health of children and the accurate identification of the causes that led to this situation," he said.

Laboratory results for both incidents are pending, and further legal measures will follow once the analyses are complete.