657 improvement notices issued to food operators in May

Six hundred and fifty seven improvement notices were issued to food business operators following an unannounced inspection by Environmental Health Officers within their establishment, informing food operators about deficiencies noted in their establishments.

During May, twelve undertakings were entered into by the Health Inspectorate, seven of which were food related and concerned hygiene of food premises, provision of washing facilities, and on improperly labelled food. Five undertakings were public health related such as pool safety.

Undertakings are legal agreements between the operators and the Health Authority specifying deadlines by which deficiencies in their premises should be remedied in compliance with standing legislation.  Failure to abide with the agreed deadlines results in Court proceedings being initiated. 

In May, 284.5kg of different foodstuffs were destroyed by the Health Inspectorate, ranging from: 164.1kg assorted foodstuffs due to improper storage conditions; 53.2kg of delicatessen due to lack of traceability; 44kg of meat produced without any permits; 6.9kg of meat products exposed to risk of contamination and with lapsed durability date; 8.5kg of doughnuts exposed to risk of contamination and 7.7kg of salami with tampered durability date. 

During May, twenty schools were inspected to ensure compliance with general hygiene requirements. Such inspections are carried out in private, government or church owned schools and whether, primary, secondary, tertiary or language or special schools.

28 adverts involving tobacco products and including electronic cigarettes in breach of Tobacco (Smoking Control) Act were noticed on local sites and the respective advertisers and webmasters were instructed to remove, something which was actually complied with.

During the same month action was also taken against another two adverts in breach of the Control of Tattooing Act.

During this month, 28 contraventions were issued/processed by the Health Inspectorate, 21 of which were related to food safety issues: four hawkers for failing to provide adequate washing facilities, failing to register business and food handlers with Food Safety Commission, and exposing food to risk of contamination

No emergency control orders were issued but one premises, the kitchen at Euro Club Hotel, Triq il-Fliegu, Qawra, was closed down due to imminent risk to public health, and then reopened two days later after remedial works.

 558 complaints were lodged with the directorate which were categorised in one or more category. The most common type concerned presence of pests (145 complaints), infiltrations (108 complaints), accumulations of refuse (43 complaints), drainage overflows (31 complaints), and keeping of animals in unhygienic conditions (25 complaints).