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 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One food product was withdrawn from the market in view of an undeclared allergen.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">complaints.ph@gov.mt .
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Stephen Koludrovic
Sep 3rd 2010, 20:32
Come on you've got to be kidding us. 26 tones on water melons. but not of the quality the importer required. 21 tones of energy drinks, and yet only 3.5 kilos of poultry. and 2.27 kilos of pop corn.
Mario Skinder
Sep 3rd 2010, 18:03
Restaurant as a business establishment. How can you label meat products, chickens and fish products that are made on premises as a signature dishes. A high quality and very high demand by customers that come to eat in the restaurant the meat, chicken and fish they ate before and they come and order time after time. To inspectors. Yes, check for cleanliness, refrigeration temperature and insects and mice/rat droppings.
A. Said
Sep 3rd 2010, 16:54
Congratulations on a job well done. I have no doubt that similar inspections will be carried out in future.
Claire Busuttil
Sep 3rd 2010, 16:19
Can the authorities please check Birgu Market on Tuesdays, as there are certain vendors that sell expired things, at low cost !!!
and the markets, especially Paola, for the Maltese Gbejniet, being sold, without a refrigiration!!!
Please stop these things!!
C . Borg
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:57
I think it is about time that in Malta, on all the food items like baked goods, fruit & vegetables and prepacked deli food (eg, ham, cheese etc), we start to see the - DISPLAY UNTIL date, besides the Expiry Date!!! I cannot count the many times I bought itmes whose expiry date was not due, yet but the condition of the food left much to be desired.
Also, for the benefit of those who are allergic to particular food items, why isn't certain food that is generally bought at the Butcher's counter not labelled on the ingredients it contains....in particular the maltese sausage, (but also kievs and nuggets etc.)
Many Deli food bought over the counter from Supermarkets , there and then, like ham, salami etc.. contains gluten and milk derivatives but no label accompains the product to indicate so!!!!
Paul Barrett
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:38
This is all good news from the health and safety of the public and well done for the protection we all deserve. Having said that, I can't help but weep at the enormous waste when there are so many starving people in the world.
G Camilleri
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:35
Only 3.5 kg of poultry destroyed wowwww.
I have seen lot of poultry filled with injected salt, steroids etc being sold.
Are the AUTHORITIES doing anything about all the poultry injected with hormones, steroids which when you cook it , tastes nothing but really salty and inflated with water ?
JPace
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:28
What a waste!!!! Do you know that there are people dying of hunger!!!! What about those people who cannot afford to purchase enough food to feed their families??
F. Camilleri
Sep 3rd 2010, 17:11
Can I ask why you think that this is a waste? Yes there are people dying of hunger, but are you implying that they should be given the expired and inedibe food instead of said food being thrown away? Just so you know, if that happens they may not be dying of hunger, but will end up dying from something else for sure!!
c. hansel
Sep 3rd 2010, 14:28
Please name the companies/ppl who did not obey to the law eg health standards!