In March 2008, the authorities of Kindergarten No. 2 in the neighborhood of Nueva Pompeya, reported receiving unfit dairy for consumption. From this data, which was checked by Hygiene and Food Safety, began a series of steps that ended only 14 months later, in May 2009, with the implementation of a fine of only $ 146.56 for the company that delivered the product, Dairy Conosur SA. This was revealed by a report of the Auditor General of the City of Buenos Aires (AGCBA, for its acronym in Spanish) approved this year on data for the period 2007-2008.

The watchdog examined the work of the Project Management Schools and Services for the duration of the public tender 94/2007. Conosur and Mastellone won and were the two companies providing dairy products such as fortified milk and yogurt drinks to 1,200 public educational establishments of the City for a total of $ 25,743,278.68.

The report argues that the mechanism of food control products during the period under review was "unsuitable." The bidding terms and conditions of the tender itself stated that domestic food security checks and laboratory studies remain the sole responsibility of the dealers. Thus, companies should take samples in their processing plants and in 3% of educational establishments on a monthly basis; the results of these observations should be referred, first, to the Projects and School Services, and then, to the Department of Health and Food Safety.

But the AGCBA found that in 2007 the concession did not perform any control over production. In 2008, 44 reports were presented by Mastellone and six were presented by Conosur, these analysis were done in its manufacturing plants, both companies yielded the same results: the products were safe to eat.

On the side of the targeted offices of the studies, the area of Food Safety said it received no reports of sampling companies. Similarly, the watchdog added that this dependence also intimated the dealerships to meet the provisions of the tender.

However, Food Security conducted fewer checks than the companies. The audit highlighted the "shortage" of studies of the Department "in relation to the number of schools where the service is provided" and noted that between 2007 and 2008, the area underwent only 17 analysis: of these, two cases were fit, although contravened Argentine Food Code regarding nutritional label information, and in another, right in the garden of Nueva Pompeya, it was found that the product was unsuitable. 

After Time 

The Audit adds that the administrative act approving the 94/2007 tender is after the start date of the service. The delivery of dairy products was to begin the first day of classes in 2007, the first week of March, and the resolution was published on May 11. Meanwhile, expenses were channeled through the use of Decree 1370, which allows expenditures of essential need for outside contracts.