More Than 10,000 Food Services Paralyzed In Villa Clara For Health Infractions

More Than 10,000 Food Services Paralyzed In Villa Clara For Health
Infractions / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata
Posted on January 8, 2016

Hygiene rules require workers to protect food from human hair and not to
take money with the same hand that served the food. (EFE)

14ymedio, Zunilda Mata, Havana, 8 January 2015 – More than 10,000
services in Villa Clara have been paralyzed for health infractions,
according to a report from the Department of Health Inspection Control
published in the official press on Wednesday.

In addition, the repeated failure of 11 establishments to comply with
the health regulations has led to their being brought to court. These
businesses many not open again until the health violations are resolved.

Food exposed for hours, undercooked meat, and inadequate cleaning are
some of the most common health infractions detected in2015 in state and
private food services in the province. The inspections led to the
closure of 19 food establishments in Villa Clara, the withdrawal of
1,200 licenses for self-employment, and the imposition of 13,000 fines.

As revealed to the press by Manuel Santos, a department official in
Villa Clara, centers for the processing and sale of food, including
snack bars, restaurants, coffee shoos and workers dining rooms, have
been affected by the preventive measures.

Another of the most common infractions is committed by employees who
serve food with their hands, without correctly using protective clothing
designed for kitchens and food service. To this is added the placing of
raw meat near sausages and smoked meats, increasing the risk of
salmonella, a disease caused by a bacterium that causes severe diarrhea,
vomiting and headache.

The drought affecting the country has aggravated the problems in hygiene
in many places serving food, as their water supply has diminished in
recent months. Other difficulties, including acquiring detergent,
transport, and appropriate refrigeration equipment affect both
government and private businesses.

Health standard violations storing, handling and preparation of food put
consumers' health at risk. First Deputy Health Minister Jose Angel
Portal Miranda confirmed in the National Assembly, last December, that
acute diarrheal diseases had decreased by 13.5% in 2015 over the
previous year, but not as much as in 2014 when they were down 25.6%
compared to 2013.

In recent weeks television has reinforced messages urging consumers to
avoid eating foods that have not been properly protected, or that have
some into contact with dust or flies. The adds alert staff not to handle
food with the same hand that touches money.

Source: More Than 10,000 Food Services Paralyzed In Villa Clara For
Health Infractions / 14ymedio, Zunilda Mata | Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/more-than-10000-food-services-paralyzed-in-villa-clara-for-health-infractions-14ymedio-zunilda-mata/