By MADELEINE AREK
THE absence of a food analytical laboratory in the country means there is no way of determining the quality and safety of food items sold on supermarket shelves.
For tests to be carried out, food stuff need to be sent overseas but it is not often done due to lack of funds.
Senior Health Inspector of Lae Paul Lejuwom said it was difficult for them to analyse the type of food items that were on the shelves and whether or not they were safe for human consumption because there was no facility available in the country where such tests could be carried out.
He also said food sanitation and environmental laws could not be effectively monitored in Lae because his office was understaffed.
Mr Lejuwom said his office was the only monitoring agency for food sanitation, occupational health and safety and environmental laws in the city.
He added the four officers he had on his staff were inadequate to effectively monitor all these regulations.
“Apart from dealing with unhappy customers, we also have to make sure that industrial waste from companies in and around the city is properly disposed of and does not pose a threat to people and the environment, that building board regulations are adhered to and with the shortage we have, we are unable to effectively monitor these laws,” Mr Lejuwom said.
He was responding to questions posed as to whether or not they had carried out recent checks in retail outlets throughout the city to find out whether or not the products they had on their shelves were not outdated.
He said the last checks were done was in December last year.
However, that was only done at the major supermarkets in the city.
Last Monday, a family living in one of the city’s suburbs bought a mushroom soy sauce that was on sale in one of the city’s mini marts and complained of feeling a burning sensation in the throat as well as having abdominal pains.
After a thorough check on the product, they realised the product was outdated, that it had been on the shelves for six months after its expiry date.
They have registered their complaint with the Lae urban local level government, got medical certificates and will be pursuing their case in court.