Chief health inspector urges consumers to insist that vendors observe proper food-safety practices

Sharon Martin, the country’s chief health inspector, says that vendors and
consumers must be aware of the importance of serving food at the right
temperature.
 
The Central Board of Health (CBH) has been undertaking on-the-spot food-
safety inspections, and several businesses have been found to be in breach of
proper food-handling practices.
 
Martin says there are some vendors who prepare food well in advance, in
particular chicken, expecting customers to come and make purchases.
 
However, she notes that the already prepared food sits at room temperature
and, after some two hours, begins to produce bacteria that cause food-borne
illnesses – after which it is then sold to customers.
 
This is a no-no, Martin says, as those foods that should be served hot must be
served that way and those that should be served cold must be served cold.

According to Martin, consumers should become more informed about correct
food-handling practices to avoid falling sick as a result of the many food-borne
ailments, such as salmonella.

Consumers have the right to insist on their food being served at correct
temperatures, the chief health inspector says, and they should also check that
food-safety measures are being observed before they buy.

That was Chief Health Inspector Sharon Martin.