Prosecutors in Peru are continuing to investigate potential crimes related to the 2024 school food program.
The Prosecutor's Office for Corruption of Officials carried out raids on 13 properties in La Libertad, Áncash and Lima in November. The operation was led by provincial prosecutor Reynaldo Abia Arrieta, and five assistants, who helped to seize electronic equipment, cell phones, and cash.
Investigations so far into the Qali Warma school food case point to the existence of a network that manipulated selection and awarding processes to favor certain food companies, including Frigoinca.
Three individuals are accused of facilitating health permits for Frigoinca.
Aníbal Morillo and Jorge Luis Silva allegedly used contacts in the Gerencia Regional de Salud (Geresa) to support Frigoinca with permits and health inspections to obtain contracts with the Qali Warma program. Luis Álvarez, a former official of the Qali Warma unit in Áncash, is accused of receiving bribes to change reports on meat product volumes. Óscar Acuña Peralta is also under investigation.
According to the prosecutor’s office, actions harmed the health of thousands of schoolchildren in several departments across the country.
Collected documents include files from the regional government of La Libertad related to contracts with Frigoinca to supply canned goods to the Qali Warma program. The purpose is to assess information about the selection and award processes for food supplier companies, including Frigoinca.
Recent suspected issues
Meanwhile, an investigation has found the school food program, now called Wasi Mikuna, was not to blame for 16 illnesses reported in November.
The Regional Health Directorate (Diresa) was part of a team that conducted an onsite inspection to verify the Javier Pulgar Vidal school's sanitary conditions. Specialists collected samples of the suspected food, which were sent to the lab. These tests and epidemiological analysis confirmed no contaminants or issues posing a health risk.
The Regional Health Directorate of Huánuco was asked to carry out surveillance on the products distributed to the school and at the supplier.
Results will be sent to the Public Prosecutor's Office as evidence to identify those responsible for the false information that caused distrust in the food distributed to children.
An inspection was undertaken at Consorcio Valeiva, the company responsible for the bread distributed to children in various schools in Huánuco through the Wasi Mikuna program. Authorities also inspected two schools, including the Javier Pulgar Vidal site, to assess the condition of warehouses and management of delivered supplies.
