A number of inmates at the Correctional Facility of Kordin required medical attention in an episode of food poisoning on Wednesday.

This newsroom contacted the Chief Executive officer of the prisons Simon Buttigieg and asked him how many inmates fell ill and whether the cause of the illness was determined. He said that a total 35 inmates became ill but he pointed out that the health authorities are currently conducting tests to determine whether it was food poisoning which was the cause.

He also confirmed that the food is prepared in-house.

The Kordin prisons’ kitchen is not exempt from food safety inspections but despite this, the kitchen is in a “disastrous” state, sources close to the prisons told The Malta Independent.

Yesterday, sources told this newsroom that a number of nurses were despatched to the prison to attend to the sick inmates. This newsroom is informed that the majority of prisoners who fell ill are still receiving medical treatment.

Sources who spoke to this newsroom in the light of this week’s episode said that the kitchen at the prisons is in a disastrous state. “A number of tiles are cracked or missing and the worktops and the floor have a sticky oil film,” sources said. “Besides,” they continued, “the fans are engulfed with dust.”

This newsroom asked a government spokesperson whether the CCF’s food is exempt from food safety inspections to which the spokesperson replied in the negative.

“The kitchen is subject to food safety inspections,” the spokesperson said.