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KOTA KINABALU eatery owners risk becoming RM500 poorer if they fail to obtain the requisite health certificates for their workers or adhere to City Hall’s requirements when it comes to the installation of grease traps in their kitchens.

A spokeswoman for the agency’s Environmental Health Department said this was the maximum compound which could be imposed for such irregularities, in extreme cases, under its (Food and Eating Premises) By-Laws 1966.

“The attendants at eateries have to attend a food handling course and undergo the mandatory medical screenings, including vaccinations, before they can be issued with food handler cards, as is set out in the By-Laws,” she said.

“They are supposed to wear their food handler cards at all times while on duty at their respective places of employment.”

In the case of grease-traps at food premises, she said, proprietors should avoid modifying the traps and follow City Hall’s approved specifications.

“A ‘T-joint’ should also be put in place before the outlet from these devices and they should not be connected to the drainage servicing the shops.”

She stressed that the oily discharge entering grease-traps should be removed daily.

“Don’t hold off cleaning the traps only till it becomes necessary to do so.”

She said it was imperative that the unwanted cooking oil from commercial kitchens was dealt with responsibly.

The operator of the Kepayan branch of an eatery chain was recently briefed about the agency’s requirements concerning the heath certificates for his/ her employees and the grease-traps at the shop, according to her. 

He/ she was reminded of the consequences for contravening the relevant By-Laws.

This action follows a social media post about maggots crawling about inside a plastic soy sauce container which had supposedly been placed at a customer’s table. 

After playing the 30second-plus video, uploaded by a Netizen, a Tuaran resident wondered if the eatery attendants had a proper grasp of acceptable hygiene.

He hoped that the local authorities would ensure that all food handlers had such proficiency.

“There have been numerous news stories previously about City Hall compounding food attendants for the failure to wear their food handler cards,” he said.

“The agency should go all out to make sure that the meals and drinks served at all eateries under their jurisdiction are safe to eat.”

City Hall was made aware of the Hotline reader’s observations.

The spokeswoman said two personnel with the agency’s Food Safety and Quality Unit (FSQU) went to the premises on Monday, shortly after learning about what had happened.

A check was made of the dining area and kitchen, according to her. 

“They examined the soy sauce containers on the individual tables where the patrons sat,” she said, “No maggots were spotted inside any of these receptacles. 

“However, each of these plastic bottles looked new, as if they had just been changed” 

She said “the Captain” on duty was asked about these containers.

“He explained that the bottles had just been changed. 

They were apparently emptied and refilled with a new batch of soya sauce every day.

The FSQU did not find any pests – be they flies, cockroaches or rats – inside the shop at the time, according to her.

“Nevertheless, the Captain was formally asked to obtain valid health certificates for the staff.

“On top of this, he was instructed to ensure that the attendants donned aprons immediately and have the grease-trap in the kitchen cleaned at once.” 

She said a ‘notis penambahbaikan (improvement notice)’ to this affect was served to this individual.

“The Captain was also reminded to be more mindful about the preparation of the food served on the premises.”

The spokeswoman said the operator was given a grace-period in which to meet City Hall’s requirements. 

“A follow-up inspection will be carried out after this. Further action can be taken against the individual, if we find that our instructions have fallen on deaf ears.”