Restaurant Operators in Labasa Town have been urged to lift their Food Hygiene Practice standards while preparing meals and ensure a healthy restaurant environment is always created.

Divisional Health Inspector Northern Division, Vakaruru Cavuilati, officially launched the General Hygiene Practise (GHP) training for restaurant staff and operators in Labasa, yesterday. A total of 32 restaurant representatives (owners and staff attended the one-day training).

Mr Cavuilati said the onus was now on restaurant operators in the friendly town to match the high hygiene standards of operators in Viti Levu.

He assured the operators that they were not holding training to create fear, but, to collaborate in ensuring food standards were met and aligned to the Food Safety Regulation 2009.

Restaurant operators under this act are required to ensure good hygiene practice is followed at all stages of food production, processing, handling, storage and distribution of food.

People who fail to abide by this rule would face conviction and be liable to pay a maximum fine of $2000 or imprisonment for 12 months or both.

“Just a few months ago, I decided along with my team to have this type of training with the restaurant entrepreneurs after observing personally that some restaurants needed to raise their food preparation and delivery services,” he said.

Similar training had already been conducted in Savusavu and Taveuni and Labasa representing the largest municipality in the Division, were on their priority list.

Mr Cavuilati reiterated the training was an opportune time for restaurant stakeholders to enhance their services. This was because the competition is expected to rise with more food and restaurant spaces opening at the new Damodar City complex, next year.

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