MELAKA – A total of 58 food premises here that were inspected between January and December last year were ordered to close due to dirty conditions and not meeting the set hygiene requirements.
Melaka Health director Datuk Dr Rusdi Abd Rahman said the closure action was taken under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, and premises will be closed for 14 days to enable traders involved to carry out clean-up work.
“Throughout last year, the Melaka Health Department inspected a total of 5,081 food premises in the state, and 58 of this number were the premises ordered to close.
“During the same period also, a total of 1,664 notices, under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, were issued. The notices involved a compound value of RM211,650,” he said in a statement today.
He said in addition a total of 5,057 types of goods in violation of the Food Act 1983 such as damaged, broken, dented or rusted, expired, mouldy, and damaged packaging were also confiscated involving a value of RM157,461.14.
He said a total of 53 compounds amounting to RM157,000 were also issued under the Food Regulations 1985.
In the meantime, Rusdi said the Melaka Health Department will continue to increase monitoring of all premises selling food in the state to ensure compliance with the Food Act 1983 and the regulations under it.
He said food traders in restaurants, eateries, stalls, supermarkets, grocery shops and mini markets are advised to always maintain the cleanliness of their premises and to ensure the food sold does not pass the expiry period and complies with food labelling requirements.
“The Melaka Health Department is always sensitive and concerned about matters that may threaten the health of consumers, and for concerns regarding food safety issues, consumers can contact the nearest district health office or state health department or lodge a complaint via the website http://moh.spab.gov.my,” he added. – Bernama, January 20, 2023
