Health inspectors close down second Maputo restaurant – AIM report

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Health inspectors close down second Maputo restaurant – AIM report

6:26 CAT | 02 Feb 2017

File photo / A view of Mauto

The Mozambican government’s National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE) on Wednesday ordered the closure of a second central Maputo restaurant, “Grelhados Tropicais” (Tropical Grills).

In this case, INAE sent in a brigade after clients had complained of seeing rats scampering through the restaurant while they were eating, according to a report in Thursday’s issue of the independent daily “O Pais”.

“This establishment was in extremely bad condition”, INAE general inspector Rita Freitas told reporters. “There were septic tanks inside the kitchen. When we arrived, there were two men unblocking the septic tanks, while the chefs were cooking food”.

There were also heaps or foul-smelling garbage lying outside the rubbish bins. Freitas described the state of the restaurant as “inhuman” and “an attack against public health”.

Asked about the rats, the restaurant’s manager, Carlos Queimada, claimed they did not come from his establishment. He said the problems in the kitchen were due to obstruction of the sewage system.

INAE ordered the immediate closure of “Grelhados Tropicais”, and fined the restaurant 80,000 meticais (about 1,150 US dollars).

This follows the inspection on Monday of one of the best known café/restaurants in the city, the “Continental”, a few minutes walk from Maputo port. Here the worker’s dressing room, and the sole toilet for the workers were found to be in a filthy condition, and rubbish had accumulated in the storerooms and corridors.

The inspectors found that pet cats were allowed into the restaurant, on the grounds that they kept rats and mice away.

“This is a danger”, said Freitas, “since cats and dogs have coats of fine hair, and these hair can easily enter the food. They can also transmit bacteria to the food”.

Source: AIM