NAPLES, Italy — The poultry plant that supplies fresh chicken to commissaries in Italy failed its most recent health inspection last week.

Commissary officials said they were advised by medical personnel that they did not have to remove Arena Chicken products from the shelf following the failed inspection.

"Existing fresh chicken products were not pulled from the counters," said Defense Commissary Agency spokeswoman Gerri Young. "However, chicken has a short shelf life and all on-hand stocks have been sold out for several days. No more orders have been placed."

By press time, officials from the Army’s veterinary command had not provided specific information on what caused the Arena Chicken plant — the sole provider of fresh poultry to U.S. military commissaries in Italy — to fail the Oct. 7 inspection.

They only said it was a different problem from what caused a failed inspection in February. That month, inspectors from Europe Regional Veterinary Command in Naples found traces of coliform bacteria in the water used to wash chicken parts that have been plucked and gutted. The traces could have indicated sewage or animal waste contamination.

A second inspection of the Arena plant is scheduled for Nov. 7. For now, DeCA is looking for an alternate source for fresh poultry in Italy officials said. They have ordered larger amounts of frozen chicken, and will increase supply as needed.