Local café operator Gunalan (left) and his assistant assuring patrons that they only use quality tea powder.
SIBU: Sibu Coffee Shop & Restaurant Owners’ Association yesterday advised its members and non-members against purchasing tea powder from suspicious sources.
Association chairman Tong Ing Kok said they should not use the product if it did not contain crucial information such as manufacturer’s name, address and contact or if doubtful about its quality.
The association has about 400 members, including those in the outskirts.
Tong gave this advice following a survey carried out recently by the Health Department under its Clean Food Premises Operation, which found some drink outlets in Kuching had been brewing tea-flavoured wood powder with artificial colouring and passing them off as tea to customers.
Assistant chief Environmental Health officer Sabri Sahari said the operation had uncovered widespread use of this fake tea powder in drink outlets and stalls, especially in the city.
Sabri cautioned that the tea flavoured wood powder was harmful to the health of the drinkers and he feared that shops and stalls found to be serving customers this poisonous concoction was just the tip of the iceberg.
Tong said: “If a patron falls sick after consuming the beverage, it will badly dent the image of the coffee shop.
“If that is not bad enough, the operator will land in hot soup with the authorities.
“It is not worth the effort to earn slightly more profit but ending up in deep waters.”
He also explained that tea leaves were usually colourless.
“When cold water is poured onto them and a deep colour emerged, then they are suspicious,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Health Department would be carrying out spot checks on eatery outlets across Sarawak to ensure the harmful substance is not served to customers.
“Consuming it could bring about ill health,” cautioned state health director Datu Dr Zulkifli Jantan.
Dr Zulkifli reminded those with fake tea power to immediately remove them or face stern action.
He urged the public to report to the department if they spotted of such practice.