Two Gozo food operators in court over authenticity of honey

During the month of November, 641 improvement notices in terms of article 33 of the Food Safety Act were issued. This notice is sent to all food business operators after an unannounced inspection is performed in their establishment by Environmental Health Officers.

The intention of this notice is to inform food operators about deficiencies found in their establishments and these are given a specific date in order to remedy these deficiencies. While deficiencies may vary, however when major deficiencies are noted legal action is taken as listed hereunder.

Five food business operators were found to be contravening food safety legislation and will be arraigned in court. These included two hawkers, one from B’Bugia and one from Paola open market, for not providing adequate hygienic facilities, one in Gharghur for illegal processing and packing of poultry, and another two in Gozo on authenticity of honey.

Twenty-two undertakings were also entered into with the operators during the same period. Undertakings are legal agreements between the food business operators and the Health Authority, with the former agreeing on deadlines to remedy deficiencies found in their premises or to re-label products in compliance with existing legislation. Failure to abide with the agreed deadlines will result in court action being initiated.

Over 71kg. of various foodstuffs were destroyed under the supervision of the Health Inspectorate for several reasons, such as following court order, due to improper storage conditions or for having lapsed durability date.

During the same month, two emergency control orders in terms of article 38 of the Food Safety Act were issued. These permanent or temporary orders are given to food business operators to stop part of their activities. These Emergency Control Orders were served on a water bottler to stop using a reservoir and a honey producer to stop using its premises as this was in unhygienic conditions.

On a positive note, no ‘Emergency Prohibition Orders’ or ‘orders to close down premises’ were issued during this month.

Eighty-five complaints relating to food safety were lodged with the Department during this month, 59 of which were lodged anonymously but were still investigated. The most frequent complaint was with respect to food exposed to the risk of contamination; 16 complainants reporting this matter, followed by alleged unfit food (13 complaints), 10 complaints on labeling irregularities and 10 on hygiene of food premises.

Another 8 complaints were related to storage of food. The other complaints related to personal malpractices, delivery of food and similar food related complaints.

For this reason, the Department for Environmental Health once again reminds the public that it can contact the Health Inspectorate Services between 07:30am and 03:30pm on telephone number 21337333, by calling personally at its offices at 37/39, Rue D’Argens, Msida or by email complaints.ph@gov.mt ^[1] .