KUCHING: Food stall operators are generally in favour of the initiative by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) to grade individual stall for food hygiene and cleanliness, among other things.
Chin Anna, 43, who operates an economy fast food stall in Kenyalang, said such a move would boost customers’ confidence to order from her.
“Even though my stall is clean and well-maintained, to have a Grade A or B sticker on my stall will visibly tell customers that,” she said.
Another stall operator in a coffeeshop at Kenyalang, who only wanted to be identified as Liang, said the grading would help boost the image of the overall coffeeshop as well as the stalls in it.
“For businesses like ours that are located in older residential areas, having such grading will boost the image of the eating place.
“It will tell customers that just because the neighbourhood is old, doesn’t mean we will compromise on the quality of food we serve to our customers, who have been coming back to us loyally, year after year,” said Liang, whose family has been running the ‘kolo mee’ stall since his father’s days.
Meanwhile, a popular ‘kueh chap’ stall operator in 3rd Mile offered his opinion on the grading system even though he is not subjected to the MBKS regulations.
“Nowadays customers are getting fussier about the places they eat at.
“Not only must the food be good, the environment must be clean and comfortable.
“With individual grading, it is good publicity for the stalls,” he said.
However, he was quick to point out that even without official grading, if a place was generally clean and the food served by the stall had proven to be good for years, people would still patronise the stall.
“Our customers are mostly repeat customers who had enjoyed our ‘kueh chap’ for many years.
“We have been keeping true to the taste that makes us good,” said the middle-aged operator who preferred to remain anonymous.
According to MBKS, stalls scoring between 85 and 100 per cent will get Grade A (blue sticker), 70 to 84 per cent (Grade B – orange sticker), 60 to 69 per cent (Grade C – red sticker) and 59 per cent and below will get Grade D (black sticker).
The stalls are graded on personal hygiene (29 percent), habits (15 per cent), cooking equipment and facilities (12 per cent), stall and table (12 per cent), housekeeping (10 per cent), refuse bin (8 per cent), washing (6 per cent), food storage (6 per cent) and pest control (2 per cent).