More than 1,500 kilos of foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate last month and 704 improvement notices were slapped on food businesses warning them to clean up their act.

The number of improvement notices issued in January marks a 51 per cent rise as the monthly average last year stood at 464. They were served after an unannounced inspection urging food operators to remedy the deficiencies within a specific deadline.

In January, four food outlets were closed down and served with an emergency prohibition order. These establishments have since re-opened after they took corrective action.

Three businesses were stopped from carrying out certain activities and were served with an emergency control order.

These included a butcher producing Maltese sausages in unhygienic conditions; a retailer advertising food supplements claiming to prevent, treat or cure diseases and a business that was packing cheeselets in “inappropriate” premises.

A total of 1,565 kilos of food items – including 592 kilos of mouldy oranges, 318 kilos of food supplements suspected of containing unauthorised GMO and 11 kilos of eggs that did not have the proper traceability codes – were destroyed in January.

Environmental health officers also carried out inspections on 62 consignments of food imported into Malta.

Fifteen private, state and Church schools were also inspected to ensure compliance with general hygiene requirements.

About 380 food-related and environmental complaints were lodged in January.

The Environment Health Directorate can be contacted on 2133 7333 or via complaints.ph@gov.mt.