Food unfit for human consumption, destroyed
Food items had been stored without least concern about the sanitary regulations in rooms infested with rats, cockroaches, flies, and geckoes while the state of kitchens in several hotels had not been cleaned for a long time and it was shocking to find that vegetables and herbs were washed with water brought from toilets adjacent to the kitchen. The workers in hotels were wearing dirty clothes and most of them were not physically fit for employment as hotel workers
A large stock of food unfit for human consumption was destroyed during a raid on hotels, bakeries, restaurants, groceries, and retail boutiques in Dehiwala recently.
During the raid, warning of legal action were issued on six traders who had violated sanitary regulations applicable to supply of food.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. S.M.R. Odayar said red notices were issued and the businessman concerned were advised to improve the standard of their services before the next inspection. He said one of the hoteliers was warned to clean the hotel and to inform the PHI of the area within seven days or else legal action would be taken against him.
Dr. Odayar said he carried out the raid on public complaints on insanitary state of hotels, bakeries and catering services in the area.
He said in several hotels, meat varieties such as beef, chicken and fish had been stored with other food items including ice cream and desserts.
He said a large stock of food including ice cream, yoghurt, chicken, fish and cooked food, stored without least concerned about food safety regulations were destroyed.
The public health inspectors instructed the employees on storing food items on shelves, fridges and deep-freezers according to food safety regulations.
“Food items had been stored without least concern about the sanitary regulations in rooms infested with rats, cockroaches, flies, and geckoes while the state of kitchens in several hotels had not been cleaned for a long time and it was shocking to find that vegetables and herbs were washed with water brought from toilets adjacent to the kitchen. The workers in hotels were wearing dirty clothes and most of them were not physically fit for employment as hotel workers.” Dr. Odayar said .
The raids were carried out on the instructions of Dehiwala-mount Lavinia Mayor Navalage Standly Dias, Deputy Municipal Commissioner Mrs. Lochana Balasuriya, to protect the consumers from unscrupulous traders selling food unfit for human consumption.
Administrative PHI D.l.jayantha, PHIS Shantha De SILVA,T.J.J.S. Peiris, M.k.susantha, and M.s.disanayake carried out the raid under the supervision of Dr. Odayar, and Dr. Mrs. C.v.maddumahewa..