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the monitor

Our food safety matters

The recent flurry of enforcement action by the Gaborone City Council (GCC) against major food retailers and restaurants is not just news, it is a vital and welcome step towards protecting public health.

We commend the GCC inspectors for their vigilance in uncovering serious hygiene violations at establishments like Pick 'n Pay (South Ring Mall), Bravo Restaurant (Main Mall), Chicken Twist (Bonnington), Spar (Main Mall Bakery and Butchery), Choppies Butchery, Pie Time, and Fours Bakery. Their decisive action which includes temporary closures, confiscation of unsafe food, and laying charges sends a powerful, necessary message: food safety is non-negotiable.

The pattern revealed by these cases is deeply concerning. Repeatedly, inspectors found employees handling food without appropriate protective equipment (PPE) or valid medical certificates of fitness. Premises were described as unsanitary, unhygienic, and in some instances, lacked even basic necessities like running water (Chicken Twist). Poor waste handling and sub-standard food storage practices were also common charges. The sheer volume of condemned produce, like the thousands of bread items at Fours Bakery, highlights the scale of the risk averted. This isn't minor negligence; it's a fundamental failure in the duty of care these businesses owe to their customers.

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