Ramadan bazaar operators told to keep food and premises clean

HAWKERS at Ramadan bazaars must ensure their food and premises are clean at all time, said State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

He advised them to practise good hygiene when preparing food.

"This includes washing their hands thoroughly before preparing food and using boiled water to make drinks.

"Ingredients used in the cooking process must also be fresh," he said when launching Ops Ramadan 2012 in Batu Gajah on Monday.

Time to inspect : Dr Mah (right) collecting food samples at one of the stalls at Dataran Orkid Ramadan bazaar.

Dr Mah said health enforcement officers would be sent to various bazaars and food outlets to monitor their level of cleanliness during the fasting period.

"The officers will also collect food samples to ensure items adhered to standards stipulated under the Food Act 1983, besides making sure that operators have taken all the required immunisation shots, such as typhoid.

"Food operators who are yet to be immunised should go to booths set up by the department at the bazaars to get the shots for free," he said.

He added that operators of dirty premises would be issued with warning letters and be monitored over a period of two weeks.

"Should they fail again, they would be asked to close for 14 days pending another review," he warned.

Although none of the 4,030 premises inspected last year was ordered to be closed, Dr Mah expressed hope that cleanliness level at food outlets would improve this year.

"Apart from food operators, consumers also need to play their role by patronising only clean and hygienic food outlets," he said.

-The Star-

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