Don’t Use Damaged Food Items: Health Inspector Advises Public

Businesses are to liaise with relevant authorities to help in the disposal of all affected items, the department added.

Ba residents have been advised to refrain from collecting damaged flood items particularly food items from flood affected areas in the Western town. This advice was set in place by the Ba Health Department yesterday as groups of people were seen outside major shops in Ba Town collecting items which were thrown away by shop owners.

Senior Health Inspector Ronika Naidu said goods or items that had been exposed to flood waters would pose major health risks to people and lead to communicable diseases. “Damaged goods submerged under flood waters are exposed to all sorts of hazards especially bacterial contamination,” she said. “As such, the use of such items may spread diseases and put the public at large at risk.

“We are kindly asking the public not to participate in such acts and avoid reusing those materials for their own safety.”

Ms Naidu said businesses should liaise with relevant authorities to help in the disposal of all affected items.

“All food businesses affected by the flood are strongly advised to liaise with the council’s health department for proper destruction and disposal of all affected food items,” she said. She has cautioned business owners not to sell any food item damaged by the flood or they will have to face the consequences if they continued trading using these contaminated items.

“Any business owner found selling damaged food items will be liable for prosecution under section 3 of the Food Safety Act 2003,” she said.

Photo: Karalaini Tavi Some residents in Ba seen picking up items on January 15, 2018 that were affected by flood waters in Ba.