HEALTH AUTHORITIES CLAMP DOWN ON UNSCRUPULOUS FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS

Raids launched in Boralesgamuwa area

In response to public complaints against neglect of food safety regulations and the supply of food unfit for human consumption, health authorities carried out raids in the Boralesgamuwa area and destroyed a large stock of food unfit for human consumption.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Samanthika Wijesundara said she deployed a team of PHIS to investigate the public complaints and to carry out raids. She said several supermarkets, groceries, hotels, bakeries and market stalls in the area were inspected and a large stock of food unfit for human consumption was destroyed. The MOH said fish curry, chicken curry, rice, dhal curry and vegetable curry were among the cooked food destroyed. Cooked food had been placed in the refrigerator for a long time and served to the consumers. The MOH said a stock of date expired food and over ripe or rotten fruits stored in several business establishments and catering services were destroyed. In several hotels ice-cream and other desserts, fish and meat had been stored together in refrigerators, regardless of food safety regulations. Legal action was taken against several business establishments for serious violations of food safety regulations and others severely reprimanded and red notices issued, prior to legal action, if they failed to raise the standard of their trade.

District Administrative PHI Lionel Perera, Administrative

Cooked food had been placed in the refrigerator for a long time and served to the consumers. The MOH said a stock of date expired food and over ripe or rotten fruits stored in several business establishments and catering services were destroyed.

PHI, D.m.tilakaratne, field PHIS Priyantha Prabhath, H.g.kosala, D.w.karunatilleka, and PHIS in Nugegoda and Maharagama MOH areas carried out the raids, on the instructions of Dr. Mrs. Wijesundara.