CMC gets tough with food handlers

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

The Public Health Department of the Colombo Municipal Council will get tough with food handlers in eateries, restaurants and other hotels in the city this year by making it compulsory for them to receive training in food handling and register with the CMC, Chief Medical Officer Pradeep Kariyawasam said.

He said with the development in the tourism sector and the city it is necessary to improve the standard of eateries.

“We will make it compulsory for food handlers to register with the CMC after the medical and laboratory tests to check whether they could be employed as food handlers”, Dr. Kariyawasam said.

“We will do so because there is a possibility of typhoid and hepatitis spreading among people if these workers have such diseases”, he said.

He said the CMC will issue food handlers identity cards or certificates to employees in these hotels to be displayed. “In other countries, it is compulsory for food handlers to register under their institutions”, he said.

The CMC will also take action against errant restaurants and eateries for not registering with the CMC.