Health inspectors demand improvements in 476 establishments

The Health Inspectorate said today that during last month it closed down two establishments, one due to food safety issues and the other ( a small hotel) due to Legionella in the water system.

1133kg of foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate and three products were recalled.

476 improvement notices were issued to food business operators following inspections, warning them about deficiencies noted in their establishments.

The unit said the destroyed food included 871kg of dried figs due to improper traceability, 207 litres of milk products for improper storage conditions, 35kg of doughnuts and cream confectionery due to risk of contamination, 20kg of miscellaneous foodstuffs due to improper labelling, 10kg of coleslaw exposed to risk of contamination and 10kg of apple pies since these were manufactured in   unlicensed premises.

During this period, officials from the Port Health Services also withheld three packages containing tattoo equipment which were being imported illegally into Malta.

As stated above, during the month of August, 348 samples of sea water were collected and submitted to the Public Health Laboratory to be analysed for microbiological parameters as stipulated by EU Directive 2006/7/EC. The bathing water monitoring programme is carried out in accordance with the provisions of said EU Directive. The official bathing season started on the 16th May 2011 and will last till the 23rd October 2010. Sampling is carried out from 87 official bathing sites throughout the Maltese islands.

Up to the 20th week of the monitoring programme the 87 sites have been classified as follows: 83 sites as Excellent Quality, 4 sites as Good Quality, and No sites as Sufficient or Poor Quality.

Contraventions

Listing contraventions noted last month, the unit said four outlets in Qormi, three in Qawra, two in Zebbug and two in Rabat, and one in Bugibba, St. Paul's Bay, Naxxar and Siggiewi due to improper health warning on cigarette packets;Two residences in Qormi for being kept in unhygienic conditions.

Another four contraventions were related to food safety issues:

Catering outlet in Bahar ic-Caghaq for failing to provide washing facilities, exposing food to risk of contamination, and unhygienic equipment;Catering outlet in Zabbar for failing to keep food in proper storage conditions, lack of hand washing facilities, improper lighting and ventilation; Manufacturer/retailer in Zabbar for exposing food to risk of contamination;Confectionery in St. Julians for not providing proper pest control measures, equipment and premises not in good state of repair, exposing food to risk of contamination even through the drainage layout, improper toilet facilities, food handlers not registered, and no hot water over hand washing facilities.