Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Complaints from the public have prompted the Department of Health, Environmental Health Services Division to conduct site inspections.

Last week DOH shut down Milovale, Carl’s Jr and a laundromat in Auto, according to the director of the ASDOH Environmental Health Services Division, Aileen Solaita in an interview with Samoa News yesterday.

She said they received calls from the public on the condition of the food at Milovale and that’s what led to the inspection and there were “a lot of violations that required a shutdown while they work to overturn the violations,” said Mrs Solaita.

“Milovale was re-opened on Monday,” she confirmed.

According to Solaita their division will not allow a restaurant to open when there’s rat feces, and /or cockroaches found where the food is being cooked.

“Under no circumstances that will ever happen under my watch,” she said.

“It’s like a new norm that cockroaches are found and the owners carry on with their operation without eliminating the bugs from the restaurant.”

Furthermore Mrs Solatia appealed to the public to make sure to wipe or wash their drinks before consuming, and especially before giving them to your children. 

“Bad practices by some businesses and it's very sad we keep seeing this same issue.”

A common call from the ASDOH Environmental Health Services Division, is businesses — whether it’s a store or restaurant— need to invest in a healthy and hygienic place of operation.

“So that means, clean all the time. It is a must if you are preparing food or selling to members of the public.”

She told Samoa News that Carl’s Jr’s health permit was up for renewal and given what occurred two weeks ago, that’s what prompted the site visit.

“So we shut them down for a few days and they were re-opened last Friday. Part of the requirements for their health permit renewal is that they submit a report from the Fire Division on their findings regarding the possible fumes that sent their staff to the hospital,” she said.

As reported earlier, eight Carl’s Jr employees were possibly affected by unidentified fumes and were taken to the hospital, with six later cleared to go home while two remained at the hospital for observation.

Manager Phil Love also told Samoa News “there was no evidence of any gas leak that would have caused the incident and no customers were affected.” He confirmed that the employees affected have been given leave time by doctors through Dec. 1, 2022. No customers were affected said Love.

Meanwhile, the U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is now investigating this matter

Mrs Solaita used the opportunity to remind all piggery owners, the DOH has been receiving numerous complaints about their sites.

“Please maintain your piggeries so it does not become a nuisance to those around them. A.S.C.A. Title 25, Chapter 16, Section 25.1605 says confinement areas for animals must be kept sanitary.

“All such structures and enclosures shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.”

According to Mrs Solaita the laundromat was reopened on Saturday after meeting all the requirements.