PUTRAJAYA: Australian salad products contaminated with salmonella have not made their way into Malaysia.
Confirming this today, Health Department director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) under the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have confirmed that the products involved are only exported to Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand.
Dr Noor said the Australian Agricultural Department also confirmed that the salad products are not exported to Malaysia.
The ministry, he said, has taken note of the report from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) dated February 5 on the recall of certain batches of pre-packed Wash N Toss brand, Woolworths, Coles, Supa Salad and Clear Film produced by Tripod Farmers, Australia expiring on Feb 14 that have been contaminated with the salmonella bacteria.
Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain as well as nausea, vomiting, headache and muscle pain.
“INFOSAN and the Australian Agriculture and Water Resources have identified the consignment of the product concerned exported to the mentioned countries and has taken control of the situation.
“As a precautionary measure, the ministry has imposed a ban on Australian salad products related to the issue effective February 7,” Dr Noor said in a statement today.
Dr Noor urged the public not to worry as the ministry was carrying out continuous enforcement and monitoring on issues related to food safety.
Consumers L concerned about the status of food safety quality in the market can lodge a report to the ministry, district health office (DHO), state health department or through http://moh.spab.gov .my or via the Food Safety and Quality Division on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bkkmhq.