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Last Saturday night, the Public Health Department conducted rapid inspections in St. John’s City, focusing on several key aspects of food safety.
These included verifying the possession of a food handler’s ID, ensuring the presence of a hand-washing station, and checking for any instances of food abuse at time and temperature.
Unfortunately, the inspections revealed numerous food safety infractions that led to the discontinuation of food for sale to the public.
In total, sixteen vendors were inspected, most failing to meet the established food safety standards.
A startling twelve vendors were instructed to cease the preparation and sale of food, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Additionally, ten vendors operated without a hand washing bucket, while twelve had a valid food safety badge.
Three vendors were found to be holding food at the wrong temperature, and food items were seized and disposed of from four vendors.
In response to these concerning findings, a meeting was held on Monday 22nd April at the Central Board of Health office with the owner of the businesses that were instructed to cease the preparation of food.
The Central Board of Health is now appealing to food vendors to obtain a valid food safety badge and to be fully compliant with all recommendations to resume the preparation and sale of food.
Furthermore, all homes and businesses must be thoroughly inspected before reopening.
To help businesses meet these requirements, a special food safety training session is being held on Thursday 25th April.
This training is specifically designed for those businesses that were instructed to cease the preparation of food for public consumption.
All food vendors are required to register for the training no later than Tuesday 23rd April at the Central Board of Health office on Upper Church Street.
Freedom of information. Our tax money funds cbh and thus the public would like a better report. We need to know what time this exercise was conducted and the business places that were inspected.
Also when buying food. Should be ask the owner to see his documents ? Or can cbh issue a certificate of fitness to be posted up. Colors lets say red for fail.
Blue for businesses that have minor infractions
Green for fully compliant business.
If u go to a business place and they are green and u require them to shut. U simply just hit them with a red certificate. Cabinet can pass a law mandating all food establishment to operate only when they green or blue.
This the public would be mindful. This would protect the Identity of the establishment. And inform their patrons of the situation.
Please we need better accountability. I’ve known a great number of people who have stopped eating out since there are reports of nastiness but one is left to wonder where. Peter pays for Paul.
Make the information public.