Members of the public are concerned about maggots and tiny insects found in food products sold in supermarkets and day-old food sold for consumption by vendors.
Customers have been sharing their disdain on social media about finding maggots and tiny insects in canned food and flour packaging.
Others have also raised their concern about the quality of food sold at stalls in the Suva market, claiming vendors were selling left-overs from the day before.
The Ministry of Health says it’s aware of the complaints, having made some progress in conducting inspections earlier this year.
In a statement, the acting Chief Inspector for the Central Board of Health in Fiji, Kasanita Kalisoqo, said numerous notices had been issued to food operators who breached the food legislation that governs hygiene practices and the condition of food sold to the public.
Ms Kalisoqo said the ministry was working with town and city councils to improve hygiene practices among food business operators.
She said a 10-week operation conducted earlier this year involving 200 food business operators including supermarkets led to the issuance of 59 notices, of which 35 were abatement notices and eight were closing orders due to non-compliance and high-risk practices.
Ms Kalisoqo said further breaches by food establishments could result in legal proceedings without warning.
Food business operators are reminded that good hygiene practices must be applied at all stages of production, processing, handling, storage and distribution.
