We need a radical overhaul of food safety penalties in
Fiji. This call comes following a series of joint
surveillance operations by the Consumer Council of Fiji,
that uncovered “appalling and hazardous” conditions in
kitchens across the Nausori-Nasinu, and Lami areas.
Conducted alongside Health Inspectors from the Nausori,
Nasinu, and Lami Town Councils over the past week, these
inspections revealed a blatant disregard for basic hygiene
standards.
Out of the 93 restaurants surveyed so far,
all 93 were issued a violation notice for some offence,
meaning there were 0 restaurants operating without
violations. Many premises had serious cleanliness issues,
including greasy equipment, dirty floors, and insanitary
food preparation and storage areas. Pest problems were
common, with flies, cockroaches, rats, and even cats present
around food. There were food safety risks, such as uncovered
food, cross-contamination, rotten produce, improper thawing,
and food warmers not in use. Several sites also lacked basic
facilities and compliance, including hot water, proper
ventilation, clean PPE, and valid health or business
licences.
Some of the most egregious violations are
listed below, accompanied by evidence collected by Consumer
Council staff.
personal clothing hung on a makeshift line directly above
sinks used for washing food and utensils. Mould and grime on
kitchen walls
(Photo/Supplied)
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Exhaust fan
saturated with layers of old grease, causing liquefied oil
to drip back down onto active cooking surfaces and
food.
“What we have uncovered in these kitchens, it
is a blatant disregard for hygiene standards, and the people
who pay to eat there. When a kitchen becomes a laundry room,
or black, carcinogenic oil is served as ingredients, the
business has failed its most basic moral and legal
obligation,” says Consumer Council CEO Seema
Shandil.
ground meat, which the restaurant claims to be “chicken
mince” is being addedas a pizza topping after being grated
directly on a prep surface
(Photo/Supplied)
“The current
fines are clearly not a deterrent. We are seeing a pattern
where traders treat health violations as a minor ‘cost of
doing business.’ This must end. We are calling for the
urgent introduction of heavy spot fines and a ‘name and
shame’ policy by municipal Councils and the Ministry of
Health. If a restaurant cannot maintain a clean kitchen,
they have no right to be in business. We will continue to
work with health inspectors, since they have the authority
to issue fines and abatement notices, to ensure that these
kitchens are either cleaned up or closed down
permanently,” added Shandil.
“We also call on
consumers to completely boycott unhygienic restaurants. If
you see that a restaurant does not maintain cleanliness, and
their kitchens are filthy, refuse to eat there, and
encourage your friends and family to do the
same.”
oxidized, pitch-black cooking oil being re-used in a heavily
encrusted pot, posing significant health and carcinogenic
risks (Photo/Supplied)
Consumers
who face filthy conditions in restaurants are encouraged to
report their complaints to the toll-free National Consumer
Helpline 155 or complaints@consumersfiji.org.
Post
Script:
All surveillances were carried out in
the company of Health Inspectors, and while the Consumer
Council is not in a position to name these restaurants, such
information can be sought from the respective municipal
councils where these surveillances took
place.
