KUCHING: The Kuching Division Health Office has inspected 76 food premises and closed down two which failed to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 that comes into force this year.
According to Kuching Division Health officer, Dr Kamarudin Lajim, the first operation to inspect food outlet was conducted on Monday, which involved officers inspecting 55 premises and
closing down a food outlet in Kota Sentosa because rat droppings were found in the premises.
“Rat droppings were found everywhere in the food outlet (at Kota Sentosa) during an earlier inspection but when we went there again three days ago, they (officers) noticed that the floor has been washed. They, however, forgot to wash an area the officers wanted to check and rat droppings were found there,” he told a press conference on ‘Ops Premis Bersih’ here yesterday.
The Health Ministry had instructed that food premises which were found to have cockroaches and rat droppings to be closed immediately as one of measures to contain diseases such as Leptospirosis.
Dr Kamarudin said there were other offences but the most critical offence committed by the food outlet in Kota Sentosa that prompted the enforcement officers with no choice but to close down the premises was the rat droppings.
The second operation conducted yesterday at King Centre saw the closure of another food outlet and the operator slapped with a RM1,000 compound after enforcement officers found rat droppings in the premises and for the failure of the operator to ensure that the staff undergo medical check-ups.
The office’s principal assistant health officer, Sabri Sahari, who headed the operation, said the closure order was for 14 days but the food outlets would be allowed to resume operation earlier if the health office was satisfied with the level of cleanliness at the premises.
Another coffee shop was also slapped with RM1,000 compound after enforcement officers found cockroach droppings in the premises. The 18 stalls in the coffee shop were also inspected to ensure that they comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
Sabri also advised food handlers to register with Ministry of Health and ensure that their staff underwent health checks to avoid being compounded when operations were conducted.
For those who want to lodge complaint regarding food hygiene, they may do so by contacting the Kuching Division Health Office Food Safety and Quality unit at 082-244505 or email to sitinoorhuda@moh.gov.my.