The Lusaka City Council (LCC) has with immediate effect closed all the three Pizza Hut outlets in Lusaka for using expired ingredients in food production.

According to LCC Public Relations Manager George Sichimba, the closure follows the inspection conducted by a team of Public Health Inspectors from LCC on 19th July 2018.

“The inspection revealed that Pizza Hut was in possession of expired food products at their premises and evidence of use of expired food stuffs and ingredients in food production,” Sichimba stated.

“Pizza Hut officials also gave false and misleading information to authorised officers and also attempted to obstruct them from inspecting the distribution point. In one of the outlets, workers went to an extent of concealing expired food items and ingredients in the ceiling of the shop.”

He said the council has since given the food outlet 24 hours to explain why it was putting the lives of consumers at risk.

“The above mentioned findings contravene the provisions of Food and Drugs Act Cap 303, Section 4,6 and Section 24(3)(4) of the Laws of Zambia. Pizza Hut has been given 24 hours in which to show cause why legal action should not be taken against them for put the lives of consumers at risk,“ Sichimba stated.

“The three Pizza Hut outlets closed are located at Kabulonga Shopping Complex, Cosmopolitan Mall and East Park Mall. The Council also seized all the expired food stuffs and ingredients which included Hot Jalapeno slices, Mild piquante peppers diced, Indulgent choc sauce and Regular chip scoops. Others were Vegi wash, Halaal peri peri sauce, Halaal sweet chili sauce, Halaal dough and Halaal Macon sliced.”

He advised consumers to be vigilant and check the expiry dates of food products.

“The local authority wishes unscrupulous business houses to think twice about their actions as their days are numbered as the Council now has a reasonable number of Public Health Inspectors to do the job. The council has also advised consumers to develop a habit of checking for expired dates before buying food items, stated Sichimba.

“Any food items that are expired or suspected to be in questionable state must be immediately reported to Council for further investigations.”