Outlet inspected following complaints

The National Capital District Commission has consolidated its commitment to quality food safety following an inspection of RH Hypermarket’s butchery department at Vision City Megamall.

After receiving a food complaint on Facebook, NCDC’s Environmental Health Officers Monica Nakilai and Jacklyn Onga inspected their butchery facilities and food items, especially fish, prawns and roasted pork, which were reported as ‘stinky’ when prepared for meal. 

On August 21st at midday, they manually checked the food stuff and measured the temperatures of their butchery facilities including chiller, food display fridge and the cold room to establish whether they were in compliance with the food safety standards. 

The food stock was all in good condition, they said, adding they could have been confiscated had they been stinky as claimed.

The duo said the temperature readings were within acceptable levels, adding the management confirmed that prawns stock on display could last between 20 to 30 minutes; they are taken back to the cold room for refrigeration and then returned to the display machine, and the process continues daily.

This, they said, could have been one of the reasons why it emitted an odour when it was exposed to the atmosphere for a longer time before being prepared for mealtime.

It was also found that local suppliers of pork lacked hangers in their van to ensure the meat is blood-free to avoid attracting bacteria, which causes horrible odour, they said.

They further said the problem could lie with the suppliers and not the retailer.

The inspection is an ongoing effort by the commission’s Health Division to ensure food items meet food safety standards and are safe for human consumption.

This is one of the many shops inspected so far and had food items confiscated with the issuance of food seizure certificate. 

The health inspectors will write to the shop management to improve on capacity issues which could be equally shared between the retailer and the suppliers.

City Manager Bernard Kipit commended the female officers for a job well done. 

Meanwhile, a joint investigation into Boroma Piggery outside Port Moresby is being planned end of this week by the National Department of Health, Central Provincial Health officers and NCDC Health Division. 

(Butchery Supervisor Dennis Sautauder talking to NCDC’s Environmental Health Officers Monica Nakilai, right, and Jacklyn Onga while they are inspecting their food items and butchery facilities)

Author: 
Press release