Six charges for MoBay vendor after unsanitary act

WESTERN BUREAU:

A vendor filmed urinating in a container and then transferring it into a bottle at the Charles Gordon Market in Montego Bay, St James, has been slapped with six charges.

Sherika Lewis, the acting chief public health inspector for St James, made the disclosure at Thursday’s meeting of the St James Municipal Corporation (StJMC).

She reported that the woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly peddling ground provisions and fruits when the act was recorded by a motorist. She was charged under the Public Health Food Handling Regulations and is to appear in the St James Parish Court on September 25.

“There were six charges, to include having no food handler’s permit, and also contaminating food items, and contaminating the vehicle used to transport food,” said Lewis.

The St James Health Services had indicated last week that the woman would not be allowed to continue plying her wares at the market and that her vendor’s licence, which was last renewed in 2021, was expired at the time of the incident.

Under Section 35, any violation of the regulations is punishable by a fine of up to $1 million or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months.

Lewis told the StJMC meeting that the health department will conduct training sessions next month to sensitise vendors on the importance of sanitation and food safety.

She also highlighted sanitation and safety concerns at the market that she said must be addressed, including “lack of security and pest-proofing, as there were stray animals observed there, and the area is accessible to loiterers and scavengers”.

“There are also unsanitary conditions at the fish market and the meat market, and the main concern is the fact that the market vendors are outside of the approved vending areas,” added Lewis.

christopher.thomas@gleanerjm.com

Alleged breaches of Public Health Food Handling Regulations

• Section 12 (E) – Every person who stores, sells or offers for sale any food outside of any building ... shall keep such food covered and protected from contamination ... .

• Section 15 (A) – Every person who transports food shall ensure that the food is protected against contamination by insects, pests, animals, wind, dust or any other contaminant.

• Section 15 (C) – The food is not to be transported with any animal or poultry (alive or dead), hide, chemical or toxic substance or any substance which is liable to contaminate the food so as to render it unfit for human consumption.

• Section 26.1 – No person ... shall be employed in or assist in a food-handling establishment unless he is the holder of a food handler’s permit.

• Section 26.2 – A person who is desirous of being employed in a food-handling establishment shall, before being employed therein, apply ... for a food handler’s permit ... .

• Section 27.1 (G) – An employee shall not sleep, spit or smoke or use tobacco or any prohibited substance in any manner or do anything which is harmful or unhealthy in any place where food is prepared, stored or sold ... .