A crackdown on health and hygiene standards has resulted in six Cancún restaurants being sanctioned for failing to comply with regulations in the municipality of Benito Juárez.
According to Jaime Torres Viveros, director of health risk protection in the state, daily inspections are conducted at restaurants, diners, supermarkets, street markets, and street vendors, primarily in tourist and high-traffic areas. The aim is to ensure that all establishments comply with regulations regarding human consumption.
In addition, a training campaign for restaurant staff on hygienic food handling was reinforced to address the issue of food safety. The entire production chain is being monitored to guarantee optimal conditions.
The move comes after a recent incident in which minors suffered severe food poisoning allegedly after eating sushi at a Cancún restaurant. Parents demanded the intervention of the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris).
With temperatures soaring above 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas, the risk of product decomposition and outbreaks due to bacterial contamination increases significantly. Surveillance operations are now in place in establishments that handle and process food.
Inspectors check products labeled as refrigerated or frozen for expiration dates, a serious offense if processed past its expiration date. Temperature checks on food and refrigerators are also conducted to prevent contamination.
Irregularities have been found, particularly regarding cross-production, where cooked and raw processed foods are mixed together, allowing bacteria to be exchanged. Cancún’s emphasis on inspection operations aims to address this issue in the city’s large number of gastronomic centers.
If irregularities are found, restaurants can face sanctions ranging from product seizure and temporary suspension to an administrative process resulting in a fine equivalent to over 22,000 pesos. The decision to impose sanctions or suspend a restaurant depends on the severity of the infractions.
Source: Sipse
