What did the monitoring of shops in Lepel reveal?

The specialists of the Lepel District Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology carry out state sanitary supervision over retail outlets, making maximum use of preventive and precautionary measures. For example, assistant hygienist Olga Khatskevich monitored the shops in our district.
Based on the results of the supervisory measure in the mobile shops of the Lepel branch of the Vitebsk Regional Consumer Society, it was established that products were sold through open doors, rather than through a specially equipped window, which is a violation. In addition, milk products with storage conditions of 4±2°C were stored outside refrigeration equipment at an ambient temperature of +25°C. Also, in the mobile shop, sausage products were sliced at the request of customers, which does not exclude the contamination of food products. The available washbasin for staff hand washing was not used for its intended purpose: there was no water in the washbasin, and the sink was used for storing goods. Furthermore, the mobile shop salesperson offered products with expired shelf life for sale.
In one of the shops of the same branch, repairs to the porch are required, the glazed surface of one of the windows is broken, and cracks are sealed with tape; the refrigerated display case for storing milk products is not equipped with a temperature control device.
In another retail outlet of the Lepel branch, the shop territory was not cleared of household waste, a large number of flies were found in the sales area, the freezer chest for storing semi-finished meat products is not equipped with a temperature control device, and other violations were identified.
Violations were also found in the "Kopeeчка" shops of ZAO "Dobronom". For example, storage rooms, washing areas, packaging areas, restrooms, and staff rooms were not kept clean; in the freezer and refrigerator chambers of the storage room, the storage of raw and ready-to-eat products was not segregated. In addition, defective, spoiled, and withdrawn products were stored in these chambers.
In the sales area, the sale of raw food products (chilled semi-finished products)of poultry meat, poultry carcasses, chicken eggs) was carried out next to ready-to-eat products. Products with expired shelf life were also offered for sale.
Public catering establishments also did not operate without violations. For example, in the mini-cafe "Sushi Dom" at Budenny Street, 12, the territory around the mini-cafe was not cleared of household and construction waste, and cigarette butts.
The mini-cafe requires renovation: the food preparation area has multiple defects on the walls and linoleum floor covering; in the staff room, the walls and floor are made of materials that cannot be washed and disinfected. All hand-washing sinks are not equipped with hand sanitiser and disposable towels or a hand dryer. In the area where cold appetizers are prepared, bactericidal lighting is not provided. Other violations were also identified.
Inspectors keep trade and public catering workers on their toes, and for now, this cannot be avoided. They can visit any shop or cafe, and this is an incentive to work according to the rules.
Natalia Khrapovitskaya, "Lepelsky Krai" newspaper