Discolored meat has been discovered in the storage facilities of a supermarket in Labasa. Vakaruru Cavuilati, the Divisional North Health Inspector, reported that the supermarket has received a notice for non-compliance with food safety regulations.
“This issue was identified during a routine inspection conducted in collaboration with the municipality,” Mr. Cavuilati explained, noting that improper storage temperatures led to the discoloration of the meat.
“We removed the affected frozen products for laboratory testing to check for any microbial growth.” He added that the supermarket’s freezer had been non-operational for over two weeks.
“They indicated they intended to reopen their storage to install a fan,” he said. “This may have disrupted the circulation of cold air within the container.”
Mr. Cavuilati confirmed that no meat has been sold by the supermarket since the freezer’s closure.