The Environmental Health Services Division of the Department of Health (DOH) is continuing to close stores and food vendors violating health and food safety regulations.
On Wednesday, Canton Mart in Leone was closed due to unhygienic and unsanitary conditions. DOH teams also found evidence of cross-contamination involving meat products.
DOH also closed down Taofinuu Catering Services in Tafuna after inspectors found that the vendor was continuing to use minors without health cards to sell food items. The business had been warned earlier that this practice is against the law.
Inspectors also found violations in the Meat Packing Room of Faleniu Mart and ordered the closure of that room only.
Meat was being repacked without an approved business license or valid health permit, and the room had not been approved for that purpose.
The Environmental Health Services Division posted a message on its Facebook Page, directed to food establishments:
“Stop calling leaders of the government, church, sponsors, or any leader to convince us not to close or shut down your business. You have been warned and given notice to correct discrepancies to prevent food poisoning, but failed to do so, which led to a closure to prevent food poisoning and or death.”
Meanwhile, some of the businesses which were closed a week ago have been reopened after they satisfactorily met follow-up inspections. These include, Tony Ocean Mart-Nu’uuli, Nan Mart-Vailoa, Taputimu Mart-Taputimu, and TMJ Mart Laundromat-Nuuuli.
