A report from the Directorate of Environmental Health and Sanitation dated 26th August, 2019 has revealed that SAAD Group Limited has compromised a number of hygiene and sanitary requirements over the storage of rice across their stores in the country.
An on the spot check done by the Directorate of Health and Sanitation inspectors: Anita Caulkool, Martha Mani and Sankoh Sesay in the presence of Mr. Saad Saad at the SAAD Group, SL LTD Ware House for Bagged rice at 29 Cline Street, East of Freetown has discovered a number of issues at the company relating to design of premises and storage equipment; saniation and maintenance conditions; tracebility and labeling; food stores ;personal hygiene ;pest control, waste control and disposal; cloak room ;toilet facility etc.
The report had also discovered that there is a total non-compliance from the company authorities relating to the issues above.
SAAD Group according to the Ministry of Health and Sanitation report has noted that, the company is storing rice in poorly designed stores with no proper ventilation and basic sanitary amenities.
Huge quantity of deteriorated and spoilt rice in bags were seen due during the inspection and the causes for the massive spoil according to the inspectors has to do with infiltration by rodent and other pest the report says.
SAAD Group the report furthered had also failed to maintain adequate number of toilets for the workers working in the various stores and that the available toilets are not separated from the other working rooms.
Other issues identified by the report were around non- availability of hand washing facilities for workers together with soap and other detergents and disinfectants.
The MOHS report have also revealed issues relating to failures by the company in providing a proper pest and rodent control program for the various stores.It were reported that, doors to the stores have openings wherein rodents and other pests used to access these stores.
This state of affairs at the company, according to the report have provided for cases wherein heavy infestation had been done to the rice by pest and other rodents in the various stores inspected.
The Food stores the report also noted, do not have well finished floors, the floors have also been described to be very unkempt with no cleaning schedule in place.
The MOHS Report recommended to the Management of SAAD Group to immediately take actions by closing- down these stores until further instructions from the Ministry.
They have also directed that all stores at SAAD Group company must be fumigated against weevils and other pets.Rice contaminated by rodents should be they further directed must be stored for animal feeds.
MOHS has also recommended that, rice not fit for animal feed is deposed of sanitarily under the supervision of the food safety unit and other relevant authorities.
Other corrective actions in the MOHS report had included a general refurbishments and maintenance of the entire facilities at the company to include proper ventilation, adequate lighting systems,and also ensuring that ceilings, floors and well finished and painted with colored paint.
MOHS has also among other things indicated to SAAD Group that, they institute a cleaning schedule in place and also provide a proper waste disposal and personal safety gears for all workers.
MOHS had threatened legal actions against SAAD Group in accordance with the Food and Feed Safety Act of 2017 sections 64,69 and the Public Health Ordinance of 1960 ,sections 119 and 110 respectively if they fail to implement the corrective actions as indicated in the detailed report This medium is committed to bringing in subsequent editions and more detailed revelations on the poor sanitary and hygiene conditions of the hub for the supply of rice to many Sierra Leoneans including our Military and Police Forces.