Health Ministry rejects 'name and shame' approach for restaurants

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services has made it clear it will not publicly “name and shame” eateries that fail food safety inspections.

This is despite recent reports from the Consumer Council of Fiji highlighting non-compliant restaurants.

Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, emphasised that the Ministry focuses on enforcement and compliance through inspections rather than public shaming.

“Before issuing a licence, they must ensure everything is in order, during spot checks, abatement notices are issued, and restaurants failing to comply can be forced to close," Dr Lalabalavu said.

He noted that while the council conducts independent investigations, the Ministry continues its own routine checks across divisions to ensure licensing and food safety standards are upheld.

“We are not in the process of naming and shaming. Our focus is on improving the environment where public funds come from and ensuring compliance,” Dr Lalabalavu said.

He said public calls for a name and shame approach to penalise non-compliant eateries, but stressed that such measures are not part of current legislation.

The Minister’s comments underline the Ministry’s commitment to protecting public health through legal compliance, corrective measures, and regular inspections rather than public penalties.