BUTTERWORTH: Two factories, one processing tofu in Kampung Selamat, Tasek Gelugor, and another processing traditional shrimp paste (belacan) in Sungai Puyu near here, were today ordered to close for 14 days due to poor hygiene.
Officers from the State Health Department's Food Safety and Quality Division (BKMM), who conducted raids at both premises this morning, found rat droppings in the storage area of both the belacan and tofu products.
During checks, officers also found that the tofu was kept at an inappropriate place.
To compound matters, officers were appalled to see the belacan was merely placed for drying on the floor, exposing them to the likelihood of being stepped on by workers.
BKMM environmental health officer Mohd Wazir Khalid said, together with the Seberang Prai City Council (MBSP)'s licensing department, they raided the two premises after gathering intelligence for the past three to four weeks.
He said in the first raid at the tofu factory, it was found that its surroundings were at an unsatisfactory level, whereby the premises neglected hygiene in handling the food being produced, apart from some workers who did not get their typhoid jabs.
"Similar circumstances too at the belacan factory, we found that the environment there was not condusive with dirty processing equipment and workers did not wear the personal protective clothing that is suitable to handle the products.
"In terms of labelling and the use of the halal logo on the belacan products, it was also found to be dubious," he told newsmen when leading the operations here today.
Mohd Wazir said they had raided the tofu factory about two months ago during a standard operating procedures (SOP) compliance operations.
"The factory is believed to have been operating for the past 10 years and has a valid business licence.
"However, the belacan factory is found to be operating without a proper licence for the past five years, operating under the guise of a factory processing agarwood," he added.
He said they issued seven compounds amounting to about RM12,000 during today's operation for various offences.
"Besides that, we also ordered the closure of both factories for two weeks starting today under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 to facilitate cleaning works," he said.