Field catering in the operational and training activities of the Carabinieri Corps.

The Armed Force's victualling sector, and field catering, in particular, were brought up to date following Publication No. C-19, Compendium of Logistic Provisions of the Carabinieri Force. Previously, there was no specific regulation in the defense sector, except for the operational reality of military contingents deployed abroad. The aim of this discussion is the military field catering regulatory adaptation to the procedures of the Certified Notification of Commencement of Activities, pursuant to Law 241/90. To this end, the Ministry of Defense has adopted a specific notification model for its food businesses (Interministerial Decree 06/03/2020). Presidential Decree 327/1980 also applies in the Arma with regard to refrigerated shelters intended for the storage of foodstuffs at a controlled temperature. The authorization, issued by the Veterinary Service of the Arma General Headquarters, is valid for 2 years and is renewable subject to verification of the specific requirements. The procedures to submit the certified activity start notice (SCIA) are functional for the type of service operation. The Veterinary Service issues a specific technical opinion on the relative hygiene and health requirements, while the plant-infrastructure part is assessed by the competent Directorate of Works of the Corps of Engineers of the aforementioned General Command. Failure to submit the SCIA is punishable under Legislative Decree No. 193/2007; however, if the conditions are met, recourse to the administrative institution of the warning is preferred. In the verification phase of the shelters in question, compliance with the regulations concerning the Agreement on the Transport of Perishable Goods must be ascertained. The new regulations allow the Armed Force to guarantee food safety in military operations involving the use of field modules for catering purposes.

Control activities for health and hygiene requirements in National Police collective catering.

The primary aim of this work is to standardize the procedures for the handling, preparation, and distribution of food and beverages in collective catering within National Police structures. Therefore, its purpose is to offer aid for the assessment and implementation of procedures regarding the catering services activities carried out in canteens and bars located within the National Police areas. A checklist was elaborated to establish criteria and methods to verify these activities, to assess and enhance the effectiveness of the control system, and subsequently, to enable the implementation of any corrective measure, with the aim of ensuring the consumption of healthy food and preventing the occurrence of food-borne diseases as a result. The study was carried out in 2022 in 6 National Police canteens located in Central Italy and managed by a contractor for the specific service. These structures serve an average of 300 meals daily, divided into 1-3 ordinary meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). The examined canteens reported 3 minor non-conformities, 3 major non-conformities, and no critical non-conformities. This report regards the analysis of detected issues and corrective measures concerning catering hygiene in the Police Force to ensure food safety. To date, no guidelines have allegedly been established for the regulation of the procedures for carrying out the periodical mandatory inspection of collective catering operations. The results of this paper showed a well-controlled management of these activities concerning the hygiene and infrastructural aspects of the food chain.