A fire that almost completely destroyed a food service and production unit in south-central Greece last week, and which had previously distributed contaminated meals that later caused food poisoning among local pupils, has been ruled as arson.

According to a special fire brigade report which was forwarded to the prosecutor’s office in the city of Lamia, the cause of the blame is intentional arson.

The Giannitsis Logistics plant near Lamia distributed ready meals that were traced to the food poisoning of 63 pupils in seven area schools earlier this month. The cause of the contamination was identified as staphylococcus (staph).

According to local media reports, the entire production unit was left in ashes in less than an hour after on Sunday, May 19, and despite a massive response by the fire brigade, which brought 18 vehicles, a crane and 40 fire-fighters to the scene.