DoH ramps up inspections at the dock and in stores and restaurants

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Department of Health (DOH) is investigating a matter after four pallets containing a quantity of food stuffs from Samoa arrived in the territory last week via the Lady Naomi.

This was confirmed by the DOH Acting Director, Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr during an interview with Samoa News this week.

DOH officials discovered during their regular check of cargo on the Lady Naomi four pallets of goods without any labels on the items. There was a total of 86 buckets full of goods such as rice, chinese cakes (Keke Saina from Samoa); flour and milk.

The products had no labels on them or the containers they were in to confirm the expiration dates. The name on the manifest was also different from the name of the person who came to claim the goods.

When questioned about the pallets from Samoa, the local businessman who came to claim the items told DOH officials that the items are all for his personal use. DOH officials were skeptical of his story and became suspicious that the goods were for resale. The four pallets were seized by DOH officials and later transported to their evidence room pending an investigation.

Vesi told Samoa News that this is not the first time they have faced this type of situation, where goods were brought into the territory via Lady Naomi without any labels.

“We advise members of the public that if you’re planning to bring goods from Samoa, make sure you put them all in a box or some way to make it easier for us to determine that it’s for personal use,” he said.

“Bringing a quantity of goods without labels will be questionable and DOH doesn’t want to create any inconvenience for members of the public, however, with anything that is questionable or suspicious, our crew on the wharf will follow the proper procedure to make sure the laws are not violated.”

According to Vesi, DOH is closely monitoring situations like this to make sure items are not smuggled into the territory in an effort to avoid taxes owed to the government.

DOH CLOSES DOWN OVER 50 BUSINESSES

While restaurants, fast food joints, stores and markets are doing brisk business thanks to the stimulus money, the Environmental Division of the DOH is vigilantly inspecting places that prepare and sell food, in order to protect the public from consuming contaminated food.

So far, DOH inspectors have closed down over 50 businesses not in compliance with health rules. Some business are now re-opened and back in business while other are still under going repairs before re-opening, according to DOH Acting Director, Vesi Talalelei Fautanu Jr.

He said that some of the latest inspections have found bugs in food, spoiled fish, flies in the kitchen and store counters displaying open food as well as unclean kitchens.

In a few cases, it’s members of the public who alert DOH about questionable food quality or unclean cooking facilities.

But more often it’s surprise inspections by Public Health that result in businesses being forced to close down for violating health regulations for the preparation and sale of food,

As DOH continued on with their visitation throughout the island, Vesi said that some of the local businesses have contacted his office and informed him that they’re closing down their own businesses to allow them time to fix what is needed to be fixed before they request DOH inspectors for a visitation.

Vesi said that this is a good sign that local businesses are willing to cooperate, to make sure the safety of the public is prioritized. 

VACCINATION OF 12-15 YEAR OLDS

Last Saturday, DOH began giving 12-15 year olds the Pfizer vaccine.

Previously this age group was ineligible to get vaccinated for COVID-19 but last month, May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the okay to give them the shots.

Vaccinations of children ages 12-15 are available at the Well Baby clinics in Fagaalu, Tafuna, and Leone.

This group will also be eligible for shots at the village vaccination drives that started last Saturday, May 29.

Vesi said they want to make sure parents come to the clinics and selected sites, give their consent for shots for their kids and also be there when the children are waiting during the monitoring period.

DOH is also calling out to all members of the community who have not received a vaccination to have their vaccination during this time.