THE New Amsterdam Environmental Health Department is, currently, conducting a campaign to rid supermarkets, shops, stores and eateries of expired, damaged goods and edible items.

According to Environmental Health Assistant Tiffany Jordan, staff of the department visited all supermarkets recently and checked the storage bonds and shelves where a number of unwholesome merchandise were discovered.
In one particular case, almost 50 percent of eatable things were confiscated from a single entity and destroyed.
She said checks have been extended to furniture and other hardware businesses to ensure there are proper sanitary, hand washing and garbage facilities.
In relation to Chinese restaurants in the Berbice town, Jordan said the only issue is that many of the waitresses are not holders of food handlers’ permits.
“It is a case where the Chinese employ people without the relevant document, so we would, normally, advise them not to hire such individuals,” she explained.

Unwholesome commodities
She pointed out that her department would, usually, sensitise business entrepreneurs about the dangers of having unwholesome commodities on sale and offer advice on selling them at bargain prices when the expiry dates are close or return them to the wholesalers.
Jordan said small shops throughout the municipality were warned not to purchase edible stuff in large quantities as they would tend to expire or be exposed to elements that contaminate them.
Alluding to reports about persons without food handlers’ permits doing mobile vending of fruits and snacks, Jordan indicated that, when they are apprehended, with the aid of the Town Constabulary, their produce would be immediately seized.
“To all business persons, whether large or small, please check your goods in the bond, on the shelves or even in your trays and ensure that they are wholesome for human consumption,” was her advice to that community.