20% of Quintana Roo Restaurants Shut Down

Chetumal — Twenty percent of food and beverage businesses in Quintana Roo have been temporarily suspended for failing to comply with established health and safety measures for the commercialization of their products, according to Jaime Torres Viveros, the director of Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (Health Risk Protection) in the state. He specified that verification actions are carried out constantly.

The official explained that the inspections are conducted daily across the entire state through the three coordination offices they operate, with the goal of taking preventative actions for the benefit of society.

The reviews encompass restaurants, ranging from small establishments to large consumption centers in hotels, where anomalies such as the sale of expired products, lack of labeling, and deficiencies in water chlorination are detected.

According to reports, for every 100 verifications carried out, approximately 80 businesses present observations, of which about 20 are typically considered serious. This results in the immediate suspension of certain areas or even the entire kitchen, which in practice equates to the temporary closure of the establishment.

Torres Viveros detailed that the anomalies can range from minor situations that are quickly rectified to more delicate cases that require the suspension of equipment, food preparation areas, or products.

"Between 20 and 30 suspensions are generated monthly across the state, though these are temporary in nature, as each report is forwarded to a review process where it is determined if a fine, a warning, or a reopening is warranted," he commented.

The director of Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios emphasized that these actions seek to guarantee the health of consumers. He added that the surveillance will be permanent, regardless of the size of the establishment, to ensure that the products and services offered to the public comply with current health regulations.