- Area PHI conducts raid
- Supermarket nearby also found to serve sub-standard food, beverage
The Chief Public Health Inspector for Dehiwela, Wasantha Pushpakumara said that a stock of food unfit for human consumption was found for sale in the doctors’ canteen of the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital.
The PHI’s Office of the Dehiwala–Mount Lavinia Municipal Council had raided the location as per the instructions of the Municipal Commissioner.
The PHI’s Office stated that due to the current economic situation, many food sales outlets have been serving unhygienic food and a number of public complaints have been received relating to the quality and standards of food and beverage sold.
A number of places which sold food unfit for human consumption were found during the inspection of the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital doctors’ canteen and several nearby restaurants, an official said.
A PHI said that there are two canteens in the Kalubowila Hospital and in the canteen reserved for doctors, the officers found spoiled parata mixture and sauces used for food preparations stored in refrigerators and containers.
“Many foods that were kept exposed to flies and insects in the canteen were also removed, and after giving instructions to the canteen owner and staff on the correct preparation and storage of food, all the spoilt food was destroyed in front of the canteen owner,” an official said.
Also, PHI officers said in a supermarket adjacent to the hospital, many types of meat, vegetables and dairy products were found stored in a refrigerator together in an unhygienic manner and after informing the management of the respective supermarket, both food and beverages were destroyed. Both the hospital canteen owner and the owner of the supermarket are to be produced in Court.
Shehan Jayawardene
