Two establishments closed down because of imminent risk to public health
Army and Navy Bar in Triq il-Kbira, Hamrun and Amazon House in St. Edward Str., Qormi were closed down by the health authorities last month due to imminent risk to public health, the Health Inspectorate Services said in a statement.
The inspectorate said that a manufacturer and a warehouse operators were served with an emergency control order, the former due to the illegal manufacture, processing and packing of food and the latter because of pest activity.
Both outlets were instructed to stop any food production/storage activities.
In November, 459 complaints were lodged with the directorate, 87 of which were related to food. The most common type of food complaints concerned unhygienic premises (18), unfit food (18), risk of contamination (10) and improper labelling (10).
Another 401 complaints were environmental health related.
The department also destroyed 6,372kg of foodstuff last month, namely:
• 5,472kg of cheese due to presence of moulds;
• 544kg of minced pies with lapsed durability date;
• 150kg of horsemeat due to lack of traceability;
• 148kg of bakery goods due to lack of durability date;
• 26kg of flour with insect infestation;
• 6kg jam with improper labelling and lack of traceability;
• 3kg frozen bakersware due to improper labelling
• 2kg ricotta due to risk of contamination and
• 21kg miscellaneous food stuffs
During this period, officials from the Port Health Services also withheld two packages containing tattoo equipment which were being imported illegally into Malta.
In the past month, 10 contraventions were issued/processed by the Health Inspectorate, eight of which were related to food safety issues:
• Two traders for producing and distributing foodstuffs which were not of the nature, substance and quality demanded by the purchaser;
• A catering establishment for breeching an undertaking;
• One retail outlet for selling foodstuffs with information not being in one of the official languages;
• One warehouse for not conforming with an emergency control order issued last year;
• A trader for tampering with foodstuffs that were sealed by the Health Authority;
• One pastizzeria for keeping premises in unhygienic conditions and in bad state of repair, failed to provide certain facilities, and exposing food to risk of contamination; and
• One supermarket for offering for sale foodstuffs with lapsed Use by date.
Two contraventions were related to environmental health as follows:
• Owner of a plot of land for keeping an accumulation of refuse; and
• Owner of a cesspit for failing to render it leakproof.
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JOSEPH TANTI
Dec 9th 2011, 14:49
Well done for the Health Inspectorate, there should be more names and establishments which should be listed in Hamrun especially Lyceum area. I frequently notice that the giving of change and messing with the same hands handling teacakes or doughnuts is really contaminating. It is a really bad habit not using tongs from the part of the shopowners, especially where hygiene stands out. Health Inspectorates, please, chase these areas and again let us know !!
Franco Abela
Dec 10th 2011, 12:24
Do a good thing... lodge a complaint with Port Health Services... not here!
B Attard
Dec 9th 2011, 14:47
One retail outlet for selling foodstuffs with information not being in one of the official languages;
This became very common lately, but it depends what size the fish is...
Enforce all fish sizes please no the little ones only
E. Azzopardi
Dec 9th 2011, 13:51
Now that is more like it. Now we all know where we do NOT have to go for a meal. Why should others suffer because of the inefficiency and unprofessionalism of others. The days of being protected are over. And it is useless coming back telling us that these restaurants are now in line with health procedures because I, and of course the majority will never go there. Yes, well done to the authorities. This is what THE PEOPLE want and of course you have to comply.
Ronald Sultana
Dec 9th 2011, 13:12
Well done for the Health Inspectorate
michael fenech
Dec 9th 2011, 12:29
NAMES PLEASE. Unless these businesses are named and shamed these violations will go on.
Anthony Said
Dec 9th 2011, 12:08
Health Inspectorate services very well done. More 'name and shame' cases for the benefit of the public.
Joe Scerri
Dec 9th 2011, 11:14
Why are two weights and two measures applied here?
Why sometimes name the establishments and sometimes no? Perhaps it depends on connections?
Julian Mompalao de Piro
Dec 9th 2011, 11:04
This is excellent progress. Two establishments identified by name and location. This is s first. Keep it up!
What about the others?
Are the names and addresses of the other establishments available to view on a website somewhere?
Charles Sammut
Dec 9th 2011, 10:58
This is how it should be..NAME and SHAME!
But which is the one in Tax-Xbiex that was closed down for similar reasons??
Is it owned by friends of friends jaqaw??
...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on.....
Criss Camilleri
Dec 9th 2011, 10:51
This is, of course, good news, and also good to know, BUT, why were these two 'Named & Shamed" ? Which I totally agree with, but others [Restaurants] were NOT, like the ones in Tax-Xbiex for example.
Giovanni Rizzo
Dec 9th 2011, 10:28
I wonder why they take such risks where customer's health is concerned.
michael fenech
Dec 9th 2011, 12:32
Because they know there NAME will not be published.
George Mifsud
Dec 9th 2011, 10:28
The authorities persist in not naming and shaming. Now I start wondering why.
Clifford Grech
Dec 9th 2011, 10:45
Ditto
Pauline Peterson
Dec 9th 2011, 10:02
Well done. Should be more "name and shame" done.