KUCHING: A coffee shop and a bakery in Kapit were ordered to close by Sarawak Health Department following an ‘Ops Bersih’ conducted there last Saturday.
Coincidentally, these two premises were the only ones inspected within the short time allocated for the operation which was conducted in conjunction with the Inspectorate and Legal Unit of Kapit Divisional Health Office assessment meeting last weekend.
State principal environment health officer Dr Samuil-Ashton Satu, who led the operation, said both premises were closed for not complying with the requirements of the Food Hygiene Regulations (FHR) 2009.
The order for these premises to be closed for 14 days was issued under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, to allow the proprietors to put these premises back into hygienic and sanitary conditions.
The two proprietors or owners were also compounded under Regulation 11 of FHR 2009 for failing to carry out their general duties as proprietors of food premises. The bakery was further compounded under Regulation 9 for failing to implement the food safety quality programme.
“The purpose of the closure is solely to get the owner or operator to take immediate action to clean up the premises and not as a punishment.
“In the case of the bakery, the FHR 2009 requires that it shall have a food safety assurance programme which includes, inter alia, cleaning and maintenance schedules, packaging material control records, health
examination and injection records, visitors’ health declarations, and records of cleaning and maintenance of equipment,” said Dr Samuil yesterday.
He also explained the closure of these premises was mainly due to their insanitary and unhygienic conditions such as gross cross-contamination, presence of insects or rodents such as flies, cockroaches and rats, as well as food handlers practising poor personal hygiene.
It was also noted that items past their expiry dates were found within these premises.
“Though the closure was effective for 14 days, nevertheless, these premises could be opened much earlier than stipulated in the order if the premises are accordingly put into sanitary and hygienic conditions to the satisfaction of the authorities.