Health authorities on the net By Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter THE INTERNET is the new place to check if you want to see whether or not the food handling establishment where you buy food or do business has been approved by relevant health authorities. Just over two weeks ago, the Southeast Regional Health Authority (SERHA) used its website to declare "mission accomplished" to more than 900 food handling establishments which have completed all requirements and received health certification under the Public Health (Food Handling Regulations) of 1998 and its 2000 amendment up to July 31, 2001. The Public Health (Food Handling) Regulations of 1998 and its 2000 amendment came into effect on September 1 last year and requires all food handling establishments to be certified by the Health Department. Since November, the island's four regional health authorities and the Ministry of Health have been attempting to enforce the regulations. The list, spanning 15 pages, was good news to some health officials, who told The Gleaner that this showed that health authorities have been receiving response to a drive which began ten months ago. However, more responses are needed, they said. The names of the 900-plus food handling establishments in Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas have been placed at www.serha.gov.jm. Among the establishments on the website were some surveyed by The Gleaner vin January, as failing to adhere to some of the food handling regulations. McDonald's New Kingston, which had told The Gleaner that it was without a health certificate, is now on the list, for example. In addition, checks by The Gleaner revealed that the pink bordered health certificates have been appearing in establishments. Burger King on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, in particular had their certificate framed and hung near to the point of purchase, a conspicuous place as decreed by the regulations. Encouraged Health officials have continuously encouraged consumers to demand to see the pink-bordered certificates and to desist from doing business with food handling establishments which do not have them displayed at the cash register or where they can be easily seen. The website is a new place where consumers can make sure that they buy and eat products which are processed, manufactured or served in establishments which have met health requirements. William Broughton, SERHA's Environ-mental Officer of Health, told The Gleaner that some food handling establishments were currently being certified or had been certified after July 31, 2001, so may not appear on the list. But, health officials are urging the public to make enquiries before doing business. While officials admitted that the lack of a company's name on the website could mean that the establishment was in the process of becoming health certified, the 900-plus appear to be just a drop in the bucket for scores of food handling establishments in Kingston and St Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Thomas, many of which are unregistered. Figures released in May from a survey of 1,400 establishments carried out in St. Thomas, showed that only 250 had received health certification. Figures obtained in July show that all 19 hotels in Kingston and St. Andrew (KSA) for example, have applied. Seven had received health certification up to that period, so had four out of the eight guest houses which had applied. Regarding public pools, 17 applications had been received, all from tourist establishments. Seven were health-certified. Only one school swimming pool had been reported certified for the KSA. Meanwhile, health officials are reminding food handling establishments that the fee normally charged for food operations within private companies, schools, hospitals and other non-governmental agencies is $2,500. The regulations are aimed at reducing the incidence of food-borne illnesses by allowing the Ministry of Health and regional health authorities to better regulate, inspect and monitor all food handling establishments, to ensure compliance with set local and international standards. Public health inspections must be carried out and standards met before the licence, valid for a year, is issued. Further inspections will be carried out periodically, ranging from every two months to a year.
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