September 16, 1997 - A one-day training seminar on food sanitation aimed at up-grading conditions at eating establishments on the island, took place at the Rex St. Lucian hotel over the weekend.

The seminar, organized by the Environmental Health Branch of the Ministry of Health, examined not only the pro-active approach to food sanitation, but the reactionary approach as well.

Realizing that more and more St. Lucians are eating out, and that the frequency of complaints over eating establishments could sky rocket, the Environmental Health Branch is moving swiftly, at attempting to up-grade conditions at eating establishment.

The Ministry though is quick to point out, that significant strides have been made over the years. Of the close to 100 restaurants operating island-wide, the department says weeding out the bad apples are easy, as they could be counted on one hand.

Areas of particular concern are washing up before preparing food, keeping kitchens and rest rooms clean, the matter of dressing like covering the head...to prevent hair droppings and working with small pieces of jewelry that could easily find their way, into food being prepared.
And as a means of going one step further, the training seminar examined the re-actionary approach, what to do when the complaints come in.

On its own the ministry has been vigilant in cracking down on delinquent eating establishments, a new grading system has been set, whereby heating houses scoring below the required grades are forced to close, other measures the ministry says, like high risk areas, requires owners and managers to take immediate remedial action.