SANDAKAN: A total of nine Ramadan bazaar traders here were fined RM100 for failing to comply with food hygiene regulations.
The compound was issued during a Ramadan Bazaar Operation carried out by the Sandakan Area Health Office (PKS) alongside the Sandakan Municipal Council’s (MPS) Public Health Unit, here, Monday.
Sandakan Area Health Officer Dr Johari Awang Besar said among other things, the operation aimed to ensure that the food prepared or sold is safe for consumers and complies with the requirements of the Food Act 1983, Food Regulations 1985 and Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
“Among the offenses identified include traders failing to show a yellow or health card and typhoid injection, no food handler’s certificate and failing to ensure the cleanliness of their respective sales areas and not wearing an apron as a food handler,”
He said when met after leading the Ramadan Bazaar Operation here, Monday.
A total of 60 of 164 stalls at the City Bazaar on Jalan Coastal Sandakan were inspected in the operation.
In the same development, he said a restaurant here was fined RM1,000 because flies were present on the customers’ Iftar menu.
“We have also received another report regarding an Ikan Keli dish that was reported to contain fly eggs, bought by a consumer at one of the Ramadan bazaars here. We will investigate this matter,” he explained.
He said the operation will continue and will be carried out by 40 members of PKS and MPS at three bazaar sites operated by the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) namely in Sandakan, Mile 8 and Sejati Ujana.
Bazaar sites operated by private organisers and non-governmental organisations (NGO) will also be inspected.
Johari advised traders to always be mindful and sensitive about the cleanliness level of the food they are selling.
“Buyers also need to be wise in assessing which traders have the appropriate level of cleanliness, such as food that is always covered and not exposed, and operators who use aprons,” he added.
