Boston Jerk Centre remains closed

By Clinton McGregor    

 

The Portland Health Department says food stalls at the internationally renowned Boston Jerk Centre in the parish will remain closed due to continued food safety violations by the vendors.

 

The facility was closed on September 6 after health inspectors found significant breaches which posed a threat to the health of customers of the popular jerk centre.

 

Speaking Thursday at the Monthly meeting of the Portland Municipal Corporation, Medical Officer of Health for Portland, Dr. Sharon Lewis, said the unsanitary conditions still persist at the facility.

 

"The breaches varied among the different stalls, but overall, some of them included lack of food handlers permits for some of the vendors; ill-equipped or malfunctioning hand-washing stations at some stalls; food contact services unsuitable for food preparation, either because of uncleanness or pitted services, rendering them difficult to clean; improper food handling practices; inadequate food protection during preparation and or storage with defects of some storage containers; solid waste disposal and management issues and unclean surroundings," she outlined.  

 

Dr. Lewis said a reassessment of the first three stalls that were closed was carried out last Thursday, but it found that "roughly 47 per cent to 70 per cent" of the breaches were still not addressed. 

 

She said another inspection of the facility was scheduled for today.