Nearly 90 pc dansal given clean bill of health

Suspected food poisoning reported from one:

Disna Mudalige

Issues relating to the hygienic condition of food and beverages were identified in 810 Vesak dansal of the 5,773 inspected by Public Health Inspectors on Friday and Saturday. Measures were taken to rectify them, Public Health Inspectors’ Association Secretary Senerath Bandara said.

Bandara said 4,876 dansal organisers had sought the pre-consultation of PHIs in the area as per the request made by the Association.

He said one incident of suspected food poisoning was reported among persons who partook food served in a rice dansala in Ambalangoda.

The Secretary said around 2,500 people had consumed food at this dansala and 46 persons had fallen ill and obtained treatment at hospital. He said investigations were on to find out whether the rice served at this dansala had anything to do with their condition. Bandara said in addition to the Vesak dansal, the PHIs also conducted raids on 1,137 food centres over the country. He said legal action was taken against 55 eateries which served unhygienic food during Vesak.

He said around about 1,250 PHIs across the country joined in the inspections of dansal and food centres.

Bandara said PHIs provided instructions to dansal organisers on measures to ensure cleanliness and hygienic condition of the food before and after preparation. He said certain food items which were found to be unsuitable for consumption were removed by them.

Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr Pradeep Kariyawasam said about 170 dansal which were registered with the Divisional Medical Office were inspected on Friday and Saturday.

He said among the registered, there were about 70 rice dansal, 30 ice cream dansal and 20 soft drink dansal. He said the rest of the dansal served other food types. Kariyawasam said over 50 Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) were on duty to monitor the hygienic condition of the food and beverages served at Vesak dansal. He said inspections was also to be carried out yesterday.

Kariyawasam said the majority among the non-registered dansal were the soft drink dansal according to the PHIs who were on the field.

He said no major issue with regard to the cleanliness and hygienic condition on food or beverages were reported within the Colombo municipal area.