Hygiene alert: Sabah Health Dept flags 31 violations at bazaars

 By Olivia Miwil - March 16, 2024 @ 12:17pm

Sabah Health director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna inspecting ramadan bazaar at Lintasan Deasoka here yesterday.- Courtesy pic Sabah Information Department

KOTA KINABALU: Over the past three days, the Sabah Health Department has issued 31 notices to food handlers at bazaars statewide, signaling a rigorous enforcement of food safety standards.

State Health director Datuk Dr Asits Sanna said the highest number of violation notices, totalling 18, were recorded in the Tawau district, followed by seven in Keningau, with additional cases reported in various other districts.

"Of the violations noted, 12 pertained to food handlers not adhering to proper attire requirements, including the lack of aprons, shoes, and headgear.

"Furthermore, seven violations were attributed to workers lacking certificates for food handler training," Dr Asits told reporters at the Lintasan Deasoka Ramadan Bazaar, where the Food Safety Monitoring Programme Walkabout took place yesterday.

He highlighted additional breaches, including four instances of workers without the necessary food handler training and Typhoid vaccination, along with two cases of handlers lacking Typhoid vaccination.

Furthermore, three violation notices were issued for poor personal hygiene, such as long nails, and for wearing personal jewellery, such as watches, rings, pins, and other accessories.

Dr Asits highlighted the department's commitment to comprehensive monitoring efforts across 105 locations throughout Sabah, covering 5,674 stalls.

To date, 240 premises have been inspected as part of this initiative.

"For consumers wishing to report any complaints or incidents, the Sabah Healthline Whatsapp complaint hotline is available at 019-860 2929," Dr Asits said.