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PHIs warn of spoiled, contaminated food 

11 Apr 2022

  • Note impact of power cuts on storage temperatures, and unhealthy exposure due to common storage 
  • Advise public to refrain from risky bulk purchase of meat/dairy products, urge separate storage, call for complaints on food standards 
BY Dinitha Rathnayake There has been increasing concern in Sri Lanka over food getting spoiled due to power cuts affecting food storage temperatures and food getting contaminated due to common storage-related exposure, the Public Health Inspectors’ (PHI) Union of Sri Lanka claimed. Speaking to The Morning, Union Secretary S.I. Bopitiya said that especially meat and dairy products could be contaminated during storing in refrigerators.  He advised the public to therefore refrain from buying large quantities of the same during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year Avurudu season. “The public tends to buy large quantities of meat, fish, and dairy products like milk, yogurt, and ice cream during this season and store them in the same place, where it can in turn help to produce bacteria that cause health-related issues. We urge the public not to store them in one place and to buy them according to the daily requirements.” He added that all PHI officers in the island started an awareness campaign on food related standards during the first week of April and it will last during the Avurudu season. Certain food sellers and supermarkets have storage related issues and some do not have diesel to power their generators.  “We spread awareness through managers and owners to have safety measures in place,” he noted. According to Bopitiya, they also conduct raids on complaints received by the public. He emphasised that anyone can make a complaint to the nearest PHI office related to food standards.  “We were able to find flour, salt, pepper powder, coconut oil, and rice which are not up to the standards and the relevant sellers are now facing legal procedures.”  Meanwhile, owing to scheduled power cuts, supermarkets and hotels were recently advised by PHIs to stock only essentials, and to store such items in adequate but not excessive quantities. Bopitiya said that it is important to not keep large stocks of food items refrigerated due to the current situation in the country.  “Due to the prevalent power outages, many varieties of frozen food that are unfit for consumption are being sold in markets and shops. We have notified all essential parties including the public in this regard. We are also conducting random inspections and lab tests, the latter if necessary,” he elaborated.


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