The Food Safety Unit will, this July, distribute a list of compliant food establishments that meet food safety requirements.

The Food Safety Unit within the Environmental Health Department (EHD) in the Ministry of Health, Wellness, Human Services and Gender Relations, will this July, publish a list of compliant food establishments that meet or surpass the 80 percent standards requirement under the Public Health Act.  

The measure is intended to make clients and customers aware of the business places that meet the food safety standards set by the Public Health Board; and to also encourage non-compliant establishments to improve their standards.

Some of the requirements for compliance include separate sinks for handling meats and vegetables, separate washrooms for staff and clients, a hand washing sink, personal hygiene with wearing of hairnets and proper attire, tidiness of fingernails as well as general cleanliness of the work environment.

Sementha Tisson, Environmental Health Officer attached to the Food Safety Unit said the Public Health Board has been very active.

"The EHD works with non-compliant establishments to help improve their standards. If they refuse to be cooperative, they are sanctioned to the Public Health Board where they may be granted additional time, or asked to cease operations. The Public Health Board has been placing sanctions on business places that are non-compliant, and we are seeing a difference," she said.

Notwithstanding the efforts of the EHD, Tisson said the decision rests with the public as to which food establishments they choose to patronize.

"We have provided the information, so ultimately it's their decision," she said.

The Food Safety Unit conducts annual inspections of food establishments islandwide, including restaurants, hotels, grocery shops and wherever food is prepared or processed.

Food safety is described as the handling, preparation and storage of food in ways that prevent food-borne illness.