KUALA LUMPUR – The number of food poisoning cases in the country recorded a decrease of 44.2% throughout last year, from 516 cases to 288 cases compared with the same period in 2019.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said although it was still under control, the Health Ministry and its food safety and quality division took the issue seriously.
In a media statement in conjunction with World Food Safety Day celebrated today, Dr Noor Hisham said that although the country is currently facing a pandemic, the Health Ministry still ensures that monitoring activities and enforcement actions are always carried out.
He added that a total of 66,210 food premises nationwide were inspected last year, with 90.1% found clean, while 1,534 (2.32%) had been ordered to close under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 due to lack of hygiene.
In addition, a total of 19,789 notices were issued to food premises owners who did not comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 and the Food Act 1983. – Bernama pic, June 7, 2021
