Food and drinks outlet selling expired goods ordered closed

LAWAS: The Health Department on Tuesday slapped a temporary closure order on a food and drinks outlet here for selling expired food to its customers.

The premises would be closed for 14 days following a surprise check by enforcement officers in an integrated operation yesterday involving Lawas District Health officers, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism and the Immigration Department.

The closure notice was issued to the outlet for contravening the Food Act 1983.

Four food and drinks outlets were checked during the operation for cleanliness, hygiene, price and workers status as stipulated by governing regulations.

Among the offences committed were failure to display price tags, failure to secure work permit for workers from Sabah and poor hygiene standard.

The premises which was serving customers with expired goods was compounded while warnings for infractions were also issued to others.

Meanwhile, the local community are happy that the authorities had cracked down on the errant food outlets and conducted checks to rein in those who disregarded public health and hygiene in food handling at such premises.

They said such operation should continue to be conducted periodically to protect public interest.