A total 631 kilogrammes of food were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate Services in May.
The department said this included 510 kilogrammes of mouldy cheese, 71 kilogrammes of capers, tomato paste, olive oil, honey, Maltese-type sausages and other packed food items due to lack of traceability, 21.5 kilogrammes of milk past its use by date; and 21 kilogrammes of unrefrigirated dairy products.
The department said it issued 683 improvement notices to food business operators.
This notice is sent to all food business operators following an unannounced inspection and its intention is to inform food operators about deficiencies noted in their establishments. The operator is given a specific deadline by when the deficiencies need to be remedied.
The department said in entered into 25 undertakings with food business operators.
Twenty-four concerned hygiene of premises and one concerned improperly labelled food.
Undertakings are legal agreements between the food business operators and the Health Authority specifying deadlines by when deficiencies in the premises should be remedied or for the relabeling of products in compliance with standing legislation.
The department issued or processed six contraventions, four of which were food related. These were given to:
- A hawker in Fgura for keeping fish outside permitted temperatures, failing to provide washing facilities and failing to register with the Food Safety Commission;
- A hawker in Sliema for failing to provide adequate washing facilities;
- A retailer in Valletta for selling foodstuffs with a tampered label, selling foodstuffs with a lapsed use by date and for failing to undergo food hygiene training; and
- A retailer in Hamrun for keeping perishable foods (dairy products) outside permitted temperatures and for and for failing to undergo food hygiene training.
Three contraventions were environmental health related. They were given to:
- An establishment in Paceville for allowing smoking in an enclosed area;
- A premises in Mosta for keeping internal and external parts of the house dirty;
- A premises in San Gwann for failing to fix leaking drains.
Although no food businesses were closed down in May, three premises were served with emergency control orders.
These were a premises in Mosta and a bowser driver from Mellieha for using for human consumption an unapproved water supply; and a premises in Marsa for tampering with food labels.
The Health Inspectorate Services can be contacted between 7.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. on 2133 7333, 37-39, Rue D'Argens, Msida, complaints.ph@gov.mt .
https://ehealth.gov.mt/HealthPortal/public_health/environmentalhealth/department_for_env_health.aspx