Health authority destroys 6,245 kilogrammes of food
More than 6,245 kilogrammes of food and drinks were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate in June, most of it because of labelling irregularities, the possibility of a presence of foreign objects, meat prepared without a licence, or court orders, th Environmental Health Directorate said.
It said in a statement that, in July, 495 improvement notices in terms of article 33 of the Food Safety Act have been issued to food business operators.
This notice is sent to all food business operators following an unannounced inspection by environmental health officers within their establishment.
The intention of this notice is to inform food operators about deficiencies noted in their establishments and the operator is given a specific date in order to remedy these deficiencies.
Whilst the scale of deficiencies might vary, legal action is initiated when major deficiencies are noted.
A total 25 undertakings were entered into with operators. The main reasons were structural deficiencies in food premises, for not implementing a food safety management system such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, improperly labelled food, and failure to adopt food hygiene training.
Undertakings are legal agreements between the food business operators and the health authority specifying deadlines by which deficiencies in their premises should be remedied or to re-label products in compliance with standing legislation.
Failure to abide with the agreed deadlines results in court proceedings being initiated.
The directorate said that 11 contraventions were issued to food business operators; three for selling dairy products without proper temperature control, four for exposing food to risk of contamination, two for authenticity on honey, one for having potable water from a source which is not approved by the Superintendent of Public Health, and one for structural deficiencies.
Two contraventions were issued against individuals for keeping defective drains.
The directorate also issued four emergency control orders - three against owners/operators of boreholes supplying water intended for human consumption and one against an illegal food business operator.
A prohibition order under the Public Health Act was also issued and as a consequence a tattooist operating without a licence at Inseparable Tattoos & Artistic Creations, 18, Pjazza Vittorja, Naxxar was closed down by the health authority.
The inspectorate received 757 complaints – 85 related to food and 672 were environmental health related.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
10 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Claire Busuttil
Aug 5th 2010, 23:44
Good start!!
H Galea
Aug 5th 2010, 20:54
Health Authority is doing a good work, how about the Safety Inspectors are they checking the outlets of supermarkets safety doors not being blocked by parked cars. Better fix railings near these doors so no one can park.How about 'Signs around these shops indicating the shortest distance to safety doors.Wire Baskets being in the way of customers have been removed, NOW Pallets have been placed instead, leaving little space for two trollies in oppisit direction to pass.WE are Micky Mouse Country, where inspections are not carried frequently to double check abuse.Suppose during a FIRE, these passages are blocked by abandoned trollies, are you ready to take responsability for not doing your work.
m farrugia
Aug 5th 2010, 15:19
What about icecream freezers left outside shops due to lack of space in shops. Are these freezers keeping icecreams at the required temperature, surely not in a surrounding temperature of above 30C.
Are suppliers of food dispensing machines such as baguettes and sandwiches transporting this food in appropriately temperature regulated vehicles. If not, chicken baguettes and sandwiches containing mayo will surely kill you in Summer.
Edward Hughes
Aug 5th 2010, 14:16
i'm almost sure that the health authority is doing it's best to improve food handling and retail. my question is if they have the man power to do regular spot check's of outlets to cover all of Malta. Also, does the health authority take the same measures with entities belonging to the government like hospitals and health clinic's? are they as tough with those entities as they are with the self employed?
j.camenzuli
Aug 5th 2010, 12:29
The Health Authorities should do frequent spot checks at Paola market on saturday, where food products especially fish are being sold unrefregerated plus the unbearable smells in the heat of the day.
GiovDeMartino
Aug 5th 2010, 11:44
If the health authorities expect us to take them seriously they should have a look at the bread, milk and ricotta left behind the closed doors of retail outlets, They are left on the ground, uncovered and at the mercy of dogs, cats, all sorts of crawling and flying insects, dust. Even when ta, ken inside bread is left in large wooden trays uncovered and at the mercy of several pairs of human hands.
michael Borg
Aug 5th 2010, 10:38
well done on this but i have been complaining about delivery of milk in Mscala at 4: 30 am and left outside !!!! health dept told me that they have taken milk delivery man to court but the practise still a daily occurance maybe he was slapped with 23 euro fine !!! or his case will be settled in 2020
JOSEPH ZAMMIT
Aug 5th 2010, 10:26
What a waste! Good job and thanks to the Health authority .
J.Tonna
Aug 5th 2010, 11:35
WELL DONE. Better waste unhealthy food than lives.
Patrick Sacco
Aug 5th 2010, 11:37
Thank you Health Directorate. No Mr. Zammit harmful food should be destroyed immediately before producing fatal results.
I have bought recently some stuffed olives and marinated vegetables - both produced in Malta and both come in a plastic container. On the lid there was written 'Contains genetically modified organisms'. My question is this: Is it legal to put chemicals in our food?