Food safety is everyone’s responsibility, from the producer to the consumer and even various authorities. Though it\’s one area which is mostly reported to be neglected and literature is indicating more focus being made on Water, Sanitation & hygiene activities; poor food hygiene plays a role in transmission of various diseases.
Food inspection is one activity which Environmental Health Officers conduct to ensure consumed food is safe and able to protect the public from harm. As per their responsibilities, Kasungu District Environmental Health Practitioners (EHPs) have intensified efforts in food inspections to control foodborne illnesses. In the month of September 2022, the Environmental Health department team for Kasungu District Health Office conducted food inspections in different markets. They inspected butcheries, groceries shops and food premises. And surely their task was not implemented in vain, as they confiscated and condemned various food items which were unsafe for consumption.
Figure 1: Some of the Kasungu Environmental Health professionals during food inspection activity
Figure 2: Expired food items confiscated at Santhe Trading Centre in Kasungu District
The team did not only inspect packed foods in shops but also conducted meat inspections in butcheries to ensure that the public buys meat and meat products that are safe.
Figure 3: Bovine liver condemned for being severely infested by liver flukes
Regardless the importance of these inspections being implemented by EHPs, they are sometimes faced with challenges which are mostly related to lack of resources. The team lacks proper transportation to carry condemned food items to disposal sites. Not only that they also lack uniforms to allow proper identification when conducting inspections. Beyond this, collaboration with other sectors who are supposed to work together especially during meat inspections is weak. Not only that but also food handlers and shop owners do not cooperate at times. Regardless the existence of these challenges the team is still conducting inspections as they aim to address all barriers. EHPs play a very important role in ensuring the wellbeing and good health of the public in many ways and food safety is one of them. It is important that food safety and hygiene activities should also be prioritized in planning and implementation of preventive activities at District level and all levels.
