NAPLES, Italy — Commissary customers in Italy aren’t happy that officials waited more than a week before telling shoppers that the only supplier of fresh poultry had once again failed an inspection.

Furthermore, the commissary allowed customers to buy up all the remaining Arena Chicken products before putting up a sign letting them know of the potential problem.

"I wouldn’t purchase that chicken if I saw this notice," Stephanie Hamiter, a customer at the Naples commissary, said of the press release in the chicken counter at the Naples commissary. "There were problems with this chicken before. We just buy the frozen chicken now."

For their part, officials say there was no reason pull the chicken from the shelves.

"No actual health hazard was observed," Europe Regional Veterinary Command officials said in a statement Tuesday.

The command gave a failing grade to the Arena Chicken plant because of a lack of quality control during the inspection of slaughtered chicken.

At the time of the inspection, "there was no evidence the poultry carcasses and viscera were inspected at a level necessary to maintain wholesomeness and prevent contamination of the product," said Jaime Cavazos, a veterinary command official.

Once the plant failed the inspection, Arena was placed on the "suspended suppliers" list, meaning while the commissary was not allowed to buy any more Arena chicken, it was allowed to sell what it had in stock.

But without the plant modifying its procedures, "there would be the high potential for a food safety problem," according to the statement.

The plant, located north of Naples in Bojano, failed a regularly scheduled inspection Oct. 7. But the chicken was not pulled from the shelves, and a press release dated Oct. 15 announcing the inspection failure was later posted in the commissary.

Even though officials said the chicken was safe, some shoppers said they should have been told of the inspection results sooner.

"We should be told right away," said commissary customer Lori Jackson. "If I saw something like that, I should be given the information to make that choice. I wouldn’t buy it."

It was the second time this year that the plant failed an inspection. In February, traces of coliform bacteria, which could have indicated sewage or animal waste contamination, were found in the water used to wash chicken parts that have been plucked and gutted.

After the second failed inspection, the Defense Commissary Agency suspended the contract with Arena Chicken until it passes inspection.

The next inspection is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Inspections at the Arena Chicken plant are announced in advance. However, ERMC officials said that may change.

"Based on this year’s inspection results, the Veterinary Command will evaluate whether future unannounced inspections are warranted."

DeCA-Europe officials also say they will review their communications process.