A total of five inspections were carried out by officers of the Health Inspectorate Unit at the Corradino Correctional Facility general kitchen, The Malta Independent has learnt.

This was confirmed by the Health Secretariat after this newsroom asked whether any food safety inspections were carried out at the prison kitchen in the past year. The food at the prison is prepared in-house.

The Malta Independent Daily last week revealed that around 35 inmates suffered a bout of food poisoning, with the episode leading to a probe by the health authorities.

A number of samples were taken from the prison kitchen during the inspections.  The government declined to divulge the results of these tests.

The Department of Correctional Services confirmed that the inmates had fallen ill due to food poisoning but the affected inmates made a full recovery and are in good health.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, prison CEO Simon Buttigieg said: “With reference to the gastritis outbreak among a number of prison residents, active measures were taken to safeguard the inmates affected to limit any possible spread and to identify the source of infection,” he said.

Mr Buttigieg said the that Public Health Department was immediately informed and the CCF medical team assessed the inmates involved on a daily basis.  “Currently, all the affected inmates are in good health. From the tests done it transpires that the cause of the acute gastroenteritis originated from food. The tests on samples are ongoing.”