KUALA LUMPUR: Over RM800,000 worth of food products were taken off the shelves in flood affected areas due to contamination.
Health director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said checks were conducted in Kelantan, Pahang and Perak to prevent unsafe food items from reaching flood victims.
"The total value of food items unfit to be consumed and taken off the shelves were RM807,669.02," he said in a statement.
He added that the checks were conducted at 111 mini markets and supermarkets.
"My officers checked 13, 878 products and found 987 expired, while 2,443 were spoilt due to the flood with cans dented and rusty.
"The ministry will continue to intensify food products monitoring sold in flood affected areas," he said.
Dr Noor Hisham also advised the public to constantly maintain personal hygiene and environmental cleanliness to avoid contracting vector-borne diseases carried by cockroaches, flies and rats.
"It is during flood that one can easily contract vector or water borne diseases such as food poisoning, diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, leptospirosis and melioidosis," he said.
He also stressed that the public in flood affected areas should consumed well cook food and always boil water.
Dr Noor Hisham also revealed that the ministry deployed 23 teams with 101 members to Kelantan to ensure the temporary shelters have clean water supply and proper toilet facilities.
Flood victims who lost their homes in the recent flood, he added, were currently sheltered in tents in Kelantan.
"Each tent can accommodate six people, and we will continue to provide health services, good access to clean water, ensure good sanitation and prevent infectious diseases."