329 items seized from 10 Keningau supermarkets, mini markets
KENINGAU: A total of 329 items were confiscated in ten supermarkets and mini markets here in contravention of the Food Act 1983 and regulations 1988 in an integrated operation in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration this year.
The operation was carried out by the Inspectorate Enforcement Unit of Keningau Area Health Office together with the Customs Department, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, District Council and Pharmacy, and headed by Environmental Health Officer, Placidius David.
Keningau Area Health Officer, Dr Abdul Marsudi Manan said this integrated operation was one of the routine inspectorate enforcement's activities every year which involves checking the perfection of food sales in retail stores, mini markets and supermarkets in the district.
“The operation is aimed at ensuring that the food displayed at the store for sale comply with the Food Act 1983 and the traders should comply with.
“We will seize food that violates the law to be disposed of,” Dr Marsudi said this reporters after the operation on Thursday.
He said among those offenses were in terms of expiry date, labels, no name of manufacturer or importer, dump for canned food, damaged packages and misleading price marks.
Inspections were also made on premises selling cigarettes (enforcement of PPKHT 2004), hygiene of premises and food storage safety, free from rats or disease-bearing insects (Enforcement in APPPB 1988 / APSPP 1975).
Marsudi also advised all food traders in supermarkets or any of the retail stores to comply with the Health Department's instructions on public health.