PHILIPSBURG:--- The Food Safety division of the Inspectorate VSA is responsible for assuring that foods prepared and sold in Sint Maarten are fit and wholesome for human consumption. Food for consumption that is not prepared under hygienic conditions, can cause severe gastro- intestinal complaints e.g. weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and severe allergic reactions. The division of Food Safety has adopted a strategy to start informing the public of the latest inspection findings as far as food safety is concerned to make people more aware about preparing safe food. The results of inspections conducted by the food inspectors employed at the inspectorate will be published monthly.
The table below shows the results for the month of August2014.
| Food establishments inspected in August 2014 | 86 |
| Establishments closed and issued warning letters | 10 |
The owners of the food establishments that were issued warning letters, were also informed that in case of a lack of appropriate measures to correct the violations or a recurrence of the violations, they will be prosecuted in full force by the law.
The most common violations encountered were the following:
- Pest infestation (roaches and rodents) in several kitchens.
Pest infestation is considered a serious violation. Insects and rodents carry disease on their body, excrete, and defecate on food. In many restaurants and supermarkets, roaches were found running around on unprepared food and also on ready to eat food. Rats and mice were no exceptions. Rat droppings and life rats were seen. A pest control program must be in place. - Food preparation and storage area are disorganized.
In many establishment the food handlers do not separate cleaning material from prepared food, and unprepared food. Once prepared food is contaminated by cleaning material this will render the food unfit for consumption. Consequently the consumer can become sick; a separation between the dirty and clean area is necessary. - Establishment has no verifiable cleaning program, walls and floors are unhygienic, and inadequately maintained.
The lack of a cleaning program is very common. Many license holders do not see the necessity to clean and disinfect their establishment, cooking equipment, refrigerators and freezers on a regular base. In addition, surfaces like cutting tables, walls, ceilings and floors, if not constantly cleaned will accumulate grease and dirt which are ideal places for bacterial growth. Constant cleaning is the key to keep your place hygienic. - Establishment has no verifiable temperature control system.
Temperature control violations are among the most common critical item violation marked on food establishment inspections. This happens because so many foods are subject to proper temperature control. Careful management and monitoring of temperatures of refrigerators and freezers in the food establishments can help to prevent food borne illness; - The food handlers do not have a food safety certificate as required by law.
The law mandates that all persons that prepare, handle, and serve food, master the basic principle of handling food in a hygienic manner. This law is in place to guarantee that the food handler knows how to prepare and keep food as much as possible free from contamination. - Food & food products are not labeled, and are stored improperly.
When food products are not (properly) labeled and stored under inadequate temperature conditions, not even the food handler that had stored the product will be able to identify the product at a later stage. This means that the item has become a risk item for consumption. - Improper food handling procedures (no clear separation between raw and cooked foods).
Ready to eat food is handled in very unsafe manners. In many cases raw food that contains dangerous microbes is mixed with ready to eat food.
The Food Safety inspectors VSA will continue to be very vigilant during their inspections.
The public is encouraged to call the Inspectorate at 5423580/ 5422079 and report situations that appear to be unhygienic and or when experiencing complaints.
Your name, and credential is not relevant. We will make sure that the public consumes safe food, and doesn't pay to get sick.
