PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Food safety continues to be a concern in this parish, according to the most recent report from local public health officials.

“We continue to be challenged by persons not applying for their food handlers’ certificate, which is affecting our food safety. This month again we did not reach our required target of 95 per cent [compliance] as required. We were 88 per cent, and over the last two months we fell seven per cent below and we are not comfortable with that,” chief public health officer for Portland Lorenzo Hume disclosed in his regular report to the monthly meeting of the municipal corporation on Thursday. Hume provided an update on the measures the health department has taken to address the issue.

“We are making sure that persons realise the importance of food safety and we have taken some enforcement action in the month of June. Six food establishments were closed in June, which include two supermarkets, two cookshops and the others were grocery shops. They were closed due to cockroach infestation, leaking of building leading to dampness and possible mould growth, among other issues. We are considering taking further action by taking the persons to court for not having a valid food handler’s certificate,” he said.

Noting that there are typically increased activities and events during the summer months, the public health official encouraged the public to be careful when selecting places to eat and urged them to practise proper food safety measures.