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ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) and Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 urged the public to buy food only in establishments that have secured the necessary permits to operate.
CHO chief sanitation inspector Rodolfo Catahay said customers must ensure that food establishments have sanitary permits, their handlers have health cards and wear proper clothing when preparing and serving food.
“This holiday season, ask first if the establishment has a sanitary permit and if its food handlers have health certificates and wearing proper clothing to avoid food contamination,” said Catahay.
The sanitary permit is issued to food establishments upon compliance – at least to a satisfactory rating – to sanitation standards.
Under the Sanitation Code of Iloilo City, no person or entity shall operate a food establishment for public patronage without securing a sanitary permit.
The sanitary permit should be displayed in a conspicuous place, stressed Catahay.
On the other hand, health certificate should be clipped on the upper left portion the employees’ garments.
Food booths, stalls and ambulant vendors should also secure sanitary permits and health certifications.
Dr. Elvie Villalobos, DOH-6’s cluster head of infectious diseases, said some people have experienced food poisoning due to microorganisms.
“It is important that while we celebrate this holiday season, we also practice food safety,” he said.
DOH defines food safety as “all conditions and measures necessary during the production, processing, storage, distribution and preparation of food to ensure that it is safe, sound, wholesome, and fit for human consumption.”
DOH recorded a total 297 cases of food poisoning from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1, 2017 in Western Visayas. There were 37 cases recorded in Iloilo City.
Villalobos urged the public to follow the five keys or ways to safer food: keep the food clean, cook the food thoroughly, keep the food at safe temperature, separate cooked from uncooked food, and ensure that water is safe for drinking. (Merianne Grace J. Ereñeta, Iloilo City PIO)/PN
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