SARIKEI: A total of 14 food handlers and one eatery in the division were slapped with compounds during the three-day Clean Food Premises Ops which ended yesterday.
The integrated operation involving the Health Office, Sarikei District Council (SDC), Islamic Religious Department (Jais) as well as Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism was to ensure strict compliance with the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
Sarikei Division environmental health officer Talie Jok said each agency had its own area of focus.
“As the divisional Health Office is focusing on the personal hygiene of food handlers during this operation, we take stern action against those found to have breached regulations such as wearing slippers instead of shoes and without head gear by issuing compounds on the spot,” he said.
Talie said the food handlers received compounds of RM100 each as provided under Regulation 32, while an eatery with a dirty floor in Bintangor, Meradong was issued a RM1,000 compound under Regulation 2.
A total of 10 eateries were inspected in Julau and Pakan, and eight each in Meradong and Sarikei.
Meanwhile, Jais officer Abang Abdul Razak Abang Julaihi said the department’s main focus was the authenticity and validity of halal certificates.
They also checked the ingredients used in the preparation of food and drinks.