A concerned customer has called on relevant health authorities to do their job in inspecting manufacturing companies in the country to ensure production of consumable goods meets strict health standards.
The call came following discoveries of a jelly like substance found in two ice block drinks bought from one of the shops in China Town opposite the Honiara High School.
The products were manufactured locally by Nature Product a locally Chinese owned Ice Block company.
Two staff from the Honiara High School were victims of the contaminated product.
They opened the plastic and started drinking when they realised strange substances inside the plastic.
One of the staff reported the matter to the paper with disagreement and urged relevant authorities to seriously monitor and inspect the production of such good.
“This is a serious matter that must be dealt with urgently because these are consumable goods that has to meet stringent health and safety standards.
“Consumers life is at risk if companies continue to produce such products which put their lives at risk.
“It is high time those responsible, especially the environmental health division of the city council and the ministry of health, wake up and do their job because this was not the first of such incidents,” the staff member said.
The matter was reported to the Honiara City council environmental health division and they have carried out an investigation.
Chief Health inspector of HCC George Titiulu said his officers have carried out an investigation when the matter was reported to them.
Mr Titiulu said they have discovered the ice block products were supplied by Nature Product to the specific canteen at Number three on the January 17.
“Our officers have confiscated all the products from the shop and are still working to confiscate all the supplies of the same product that day to other retail shops in town,” Mr Titiulu said.
Mr Titiulu said the sample of the products have already been sent to the Public Health Laboratory for verification that will help them with their investigations and come up with what measures to take against the company.
However Mr Titiulu said he had advised his officers and other retail shop owners to take out from their selves or fridge ice block products from Nature Products that were supplied to them on the 17 of this month.
He said his staff have already carried out a general environmental health assessment at the site and will come up with their findings and actions to take against the company whenever lab samples are ready.
Mr Titiulu said according to the 2010 Food Control Regulations, they could issue a Notice of Clean up for 24 hours to the company.
“Lack of action will result in a 72 hour temporary closure and shop can only open if they have met the criterion stipulated in the form provided to the company.
“This was the same company that were also issued warning to clean up their bread factory and practice stringent health and safety practices at work in 2013.”
Efforts of this paper to speak to the boss of the company failed.
By DANIEL NAMOSUAIA
