Stutong Ramadan Bazaar traders put cleanliness in forefront
KUCHING: Cleanliness is always a priority for all Ramadan Bazaar food traders at the Stutong Commercial Centre and Stutong Community Market carparks here in order for them to avoid contamination in their food products.
Interviewed by The Borneo Post at the bazaar yesterday, most of them were indeed concerned about the threat of food contamination in their products, which is why it was important for them to stay clean.
They believed that if all traders take hygienic measures in their operations and food preparation, it would minimise the risks of food contamination and ensure the food is safe for consumption.
All of them also opted to keep their food inside clean containers and keep the containers closed at all times, opening them only when customers purchase the food.
Apart from that, all of the traders who were interviewed commented that the cleanliness of the stall areas was also important in order not to attract flies and other harmful microorganisms which can cause illness.
Juwani Hamdan, who trades at the bazaar, commented that her method of keeping her food clean while ensuring they are safe for consumption was to stay clean and make sure that everything from cooking utensils to the food wrappers are clean at all times.
Another trader, Maria Mohamad, believed that in order to prevent the food items from being contaminated, the food must be cooked on the spot once customers order them from her.
“In that way I believe that food will not be contaminated as it is freshly prepared. I have tried this for many years now and it worked well for me,” she added.
Another trader, Kartinei Ateng, also agreed with Maria as she also commented that her method for keeping the food free from contamination was to cook the food on the spot and to never sell items cooked the day before.
“Although cooked food which are kept properly will not get contaminated for a certain period of time, I choose not to take the risk. Which is why I prefer to cook my food on the spot once my customers order them from me or maybe cook them first and keep them in containers for a few hours,” she said.
Meanwhile, a few customers who visited the bazaar when interviewed were satisfied with the cleanliness of the Ramadan Bazaar at the Stutong Commercial Centre and Stutong Community Market carparks and the price of the items sold there.
Connie Tan, who often visits the bazaar, also commented that the food sold at the bazaar was value for money.
Leonora Lamban, another customer who was interviewed, opined that food sold at the market was of reasonable price, which was why she would visit the bazaar to buy food whenever she had the opportunity.
The Ramadan Bazaar at the Stutong Commercial Centre and Stutong Community Market carparks is open to June 24 this year.
A total of 163 stalls are participating in the Ramadan bazaar with 66 stalls selling food, 55 selling cakes, 18 selling grilled food and 24 selling drinks.
In that way I believe that food will not be contaminated as it is freshly prepared. I have tried this for many years now and it worked well for me. Maria Mohamad, trader