SEVEN ‘UNHYGIENIC’ PREMISES SHUT

By SANFROSSA MANYINDA THE Ndola City Council has closed seven premises in the city for keeping food in unhygienic conditions. The premises that were closed when the Public Health Department conducted food safety inspections were five restaurants and two butcheries. According to council Public Relations Manager, Rebecca Mushota, the five restaurants were closed for conducting their business inin unsanitary conditions while the two butcheries were closed for operating below the public health standards. “The restaurants and butcheries that were shut last week would be reopened once the owners pay fines and put in measures to improve the sanitary conditions of their premises.  “The Council, through the Public Health Department has intensified food safety inspections of various premises to check on compliance to various laws and standards,” Ms Mushita said. She said this was aimed at ensuring that food sold to the public was safe. She explained that last week, 50 premises including shops, restaurants and butcheries were inspected in the town centre, at Peter Singongo and Hillcrest markets. Ms Mushota said the food safety inspections were on-going and would cover all parts of Ndola. She reminded business owners not to relax the standards of cleanliness after getting licences and health permits. She said it was unfortunate that some businesses only cleaned their premises when applying for trading permits in order to get favourable reviews from the council and relaxed the cleaning standards soon after. She therefore cautioned all businesses against compromising the standards of cleanliness. She warned that the council would not relent in inspecting all premises in order to sustain public health.