The list, to be published in November by the Environmental Health Department, will indicate the food establishments that meet the department's standards.

​The Environmental Health Department (EHD) of the Ministry Health will publish an updated list of licensed food establishments in the newspapers and the Saint Lucia Gazette in the first week of November 2015. 

The list will provide the public with information regarding the licensed establishments where they can safely consume food.

Food Safety Officer within the Department of Environmental Health, Sementha Tisson, briefly explained the licensing process.

"When health inspections are conducted on food establishments a demerit score sheet is used. The score starts at 100 percent, and scores are deducted as infractions against the Public Health Standards. So you find that people may violate areas such as their health cards or hand washing sinks, which would lower the score to 80 percent."

For an establishment that attains less than 80 percent, a report is submitted listing the infringements to be addressed within 14 to 21 days, after which a re-inspection will be conducted.

"If the establishment makes an effort to meet the standard, the EHD will work with them, but if the violations persist, we sanction them to the Public Health Board for further action," she said.

Previously, in July and August, the EHD published in the Star and Voice newspapers and the Saint Lucia Gazette the names of several food safe compliant businesses that met or surpassed the 80 percent compliance bench mark set by the Public Health Board, and obtained a public health license to operate.

An updated list is to be published in the first week of November, giving proprietors time to meet the standards set and obtain their public health licenses.