The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) is warning the general public against contracting and patronizing the services of Food Service Establishments (FSEs) that have not obtained a valid Food Hygiene Permit from the Foods and Drugs Authority.

According to the Authority, it cannot guarantee the quality of the operators and the safety of food sold in establishments that do not have valid Food Hygiene Permits.

By the  FDA’s code of Hygienic Practices for Food Service Establishments in the Hospitality Industry, a Food Service Establishment is an operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption such as a restaurant, satellite or catered feeding location.

A statement issued by the Authority reminded the operators and contract caterers to regularize their activities with the Food and Drugs Authority in accordance with Section 130 of the Public Health Act 2010, Act 851, which states that “A person shall not supply or store products regulated under this part except in premises registered for that purpose under this part.”

FDA among other things warned that sanctions will be meted out to Food Service Establishments that fail to acquire the required regulatory permits by 1st January, 2020 as notice of some unregistered Food Service Establishments have been circulating on social media.