Over 150 kilos of food was destroyed by the Health Directorate last month due to labelling and authenticity irregularities as well as incorrect storage temperatures.

Structural deficiencies in food premises, improperly labelled food and failure to adopt food hygiene training saw nine food operators landing in hot water. They were told to rectify the deficiencies or else face court proceedings, the directorate said.

Seven contraventions were handed out after food operators were found to be in breach of Health Directorate guidelines. Two contraventions were issued for selling bakery goods with improper labelling, two for removing sealed products without authorisation from the Health Inspectorate, one for unhygienic conditions in a food business, another for not abiding by an undertaking and the seventh for selling raw poultry in unhygienic conditions.

An emergency control order was issued to a cafeteria for using well water in the production of food and without having it registered with the Health Authority. The operator was told to close down until the situation was remedied.

Some 470 improvement notices were sent to all food business operators following an unannounced inspection by environmental health officers. Such notices serve to inform food operators and urge them to take action about deficiencies noted in their establishments.