The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has asked Pizza Hut to pay K45, 000 as compensation for the cost of inspections, transportation and disposal of expired products if the food chain is to continue operating.

This follows the earlier move my LCC to close down three Pizza Hut outlets in Lusaka for using expired ingredients in food production.

After Pizza Hut management’s plea to have the matter resolved outside court, LCC has set five conditions for reopening of the outlets.

According to a statement issued by LCC Public Relations Manager George Sichimba, Pizza Hut management had written to the local authority on July 24 requesting not be dragged to court as management was willing to put their house in order.

And in response to the plea, LCC asked Pizza Hut to ensure that stock sheets indicating production and expiry dates were available and well maintained in all the outlets and that all expired products should always be cleared from the premises with the knowledge of the LCC Waste Management Unit.

LCC also advised the food chain to retrain and orient the outlet managers and food handlers on food safety and food laws and that the distribution centre and all the outlets be re-inspected.

The local authority further asked Pizza Hut to pay K45,000 to cover the cost of inspections, transportation and disposal of expired products and retraining of staff among other costs.

“LCC hopes that the story of Pizza Hut would serve as a lesson to other business houses which may be neglecting the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act Cap 303 of the Laws of Zambia,” stated Sichimba.