Health Inspectorate destroys 48 tonnes of food and drink
More than 48 tonnes of food and drinks were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate last month. The Environmental Health Directorate within the Public Health Regulation Department said in a statement that these were mainly: 25,920kg of melons and...
More than 48 tonnes of food and drinks were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate last month.
The Environmental Health Directorate within the Public Health Regulation Department said in a statement that these were mainly:
- 25,920kg of melons and watermelons which were imported into Malta but were not of the quality demanded by the purchaser;
- 21,000kg of energy drinks which were voluntary surrendered following seizure order issued by the Health Inspectorate;
- 1,267kg of jams and aromas and 2.27kg of pop corn with lapsed durability dates;
- 200kg of sausages following court order;
- 52kg of burgers for failing to provide traceability and labelling issues;
- 6.8kg of perishable foodstuffs such as sandwiches which were being kept at inappropriate temperatures;
- 3.5kg of poultry which were not packed in authorised premises.
The department said that in August, seven contraventions were issued to food business operators; two for keeping dairy products without proper temperature control, one for authenticity on honey, one for tampering with products sealed by the Health Authority, one for keeping an illegal abattoir and risk of contamination, another for keeping a food premises in unhygienic conditions and exposing food to risk of contamination and another one for failing to provide traceability documentation, obstruction of authorised officers and risk of contamination.
Another seven contraventions were issued in relation to other environmental health issues, as follows: two contraventions were issued against individuals for keeping a cesspit without the necessary permits from the Superintendent of Public Health, another two for keeping their houses dirty, one for keeping an accumulation of refuse, one for not removing a stoppage in drains and another one for keeping drains in a bad state of repair and causing an infiltration of water into third party property.
Three emergency control orders were issued; one for illegal processing and packing of meat and meat products, another for illegally producing cheeselets and similar products and another for storing bakery goods in unhygienic conditions.
One food product was withdrawn from the market in view of an undeclared allergen.
The department said that 744 samples were elevated by the Health Inspectorate and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory for analysis and/or examination for several parameters;
In the same month, 717 complaints were lodged with the Health Inspectorate. 94 were food related, 623 were on other environmental health issues.
The Health Inspectorate Services can be contacted between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on 21337 333, 37-39, Rue D’Argens, Msida or by email complaints.ph@gov.mt .