❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the potential health hazards of unwrapped complimentary mints in restaurants. The Minister acknowledges the issue but states that the hazard is minimal if proper hygiene practices are followed.
AnsweredQoN 2159Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the Minister aware of the article on page 5 of
The West Australian
of 23 September 2003, entitled ‘Dangers in mint condition’?
(2) Does the Minister agree that unwrapped complimentary mints provided by some restaurants are a health hazard to restaurant patrons?
(3) How many cases are known to the Health Department of restaurant patrons becoming ill as a result of eating an unwrapped mint?
(4) Will the Minister provide a summary of these cases?
(5) Has the Department conducted a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the increased cost to the environment of producing wrappings for mints and then the appropriate disposal of the used wrapping is offset by the cost savings arising from the reduced number of patrons who might have otherwise become ill after eating unwrapped mints?
The West Australian
of 23 September 2003, entitled ‘Dangers in mint condition’?
(2) Does the Minister agree that unwrapped complimentary mints provided by some restaurants are a health hazard to restaurant patrons?
(3) How many cases are known to the Health Department of restaurant patrons becoming ill as a result of eating an unwrapped mint?
(4) Will the Minister provide a summary of these cases?
(5) Has the Department conducted a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the increased cost to the environment of producing wrappings for mints and then the appropriate disposal of the used wrapping is offset by the cost savings arising from the reduced number of patrons who might have otherwise become ill after eating unwrapped mints?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
18 November 2003
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
34 days
(1) Yes.
(2) This is dependent on how the unwrapped mints are presented. As the article indicated, if the mints are kept in a jar with a lid or are otherwise protected from people sneezing and coughing over the mints, and tongs are provided for selection of the mints, then there is little or no health hazard.
(3) None.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) No.
(2) This is dependent on how the unwrapped mints are presented. As the article indicated, if the mints are kept in a jar with a lid or are otherwise protected from people sneezing and coughing over the mints, and tongs are provided for selection of the mints, then there is little or no health hazard.
(3) None.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) No.
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