fbpx
Connect with us

News

Many Restaurant Workers in M’sia Are Not Hygienic, Carry Food-Poisoning Bacteria

Published

Many Restaurant Workers In Msia Are Not Hygienic Enough, Carry Food-Poisoning Bacteria - World Of Buzz 5

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

A team of researchers from Universiti Malaya, led by Assoc Prof Dr Siti Nursheena Mohd Zain, recently found a high prevalence of food poisoning bacteria on the hands of restaurant workers, particularly the foreign labourers, working in the food service industry. This certainly calls for improvements in the personal hygiene and sanitation standards in our food service industry!

As of late, there have been a lot of temporary closure of dirty food eateries (for example Raj’s Banana Leaf), and the Government needs to address the systemic issue, they said.

According to The Star, the parasitologist revealed that hand swabs taken from 383 legal migrant workers handling food in three cities – Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu and Shah Alam – almost all indicated potential health hazards.

It also showed that 64% of the workers sampled had high counts of Staphylococcus aureus which exceeded acceptable levels of hygiene while one-fifth showed high levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli). These bacteria can cause a host of medical conditions, some of which that can be fatal!

Many Restaurant Workers In Msia Are Not Hygienic Enough, Carry Food-Poisoning Bacteria - World Of Buzz 3

According to the researchers, food handlers are one of the major sources of foodborne disease outbreaks in Malaysia.

“The findings indicate high proba­bility of transmission of pathogenic bacteria from the food handlers’ hands to customers during meal preparation and serving and this calls for improvements in personal hygiene and sanitation standards by the relevant health authorities,” Dr Siti Nursheena told The Star.

The foreign workers who participated in the study mostly consisted of those who entered the country recently but the results on high infection rate did not show much difference for length of stay in Malaysia. The workers who were sampled came from India, In­­donesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myan­­mar, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Vietnam, and worked in places like mamak shops, coffee shops, cafes and hawker stalls.

In another study using the same samples, it was found that 3% of workers carried non-typhoidal Sal­mo­nella and they exhibited resistance to a broad range of antibiotics.

“A high prevalence of these hand-contaminating bacteria serves as an indicator of poor hygiene and reflects the degree of contamination of raw foods, equipment and the kitchen environments,” she said.

Dr Siti also said that the temporary closure of premises is only a superficial gesture. She hopes that there will be better attempts made to address some of the more systemic issues affecting the industry.

Many Restaurant Workers In Msia Are Not Hygienic Enough, Carry Food-Poisoning Bacteria - World Of Buzz 2

Many foreign workers in the food industry were not properly assessed to ensure that they possess minimum standards of hygiene and food safety knowledge, she informed.

“If we are to ensure that Malay­sians who enjoy eating out in restaurants are able to dine with full comfort and not worry about food safety, then we need to take urgent remedial measures to improve the management system of our foreign food handlers,” she added.

Dr Siti Nursheena said the team hoped the new health minister would address all those issues and that the programme will be evaluated regularly.

“The ministry should also consider certifying workers as a measure of restaurant standards while ensuring that the regulation and guidelines are enforced,” she said.

Let’s hope we have some policies implemented in order to really improve the hygiene levels in the nation for the benefit of all.

 

Also read: Raj’s Banana Leaf Has Unvaccinated Staff, No Food-Handling Training & Pests

Many Restaurant Workers In Msia Are Not Hygienic Enough, Carry Food-Poisoning Bacteria - World Of Buzz 1

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

Collage 89 Collage 89
News15 hours ago

Johor Government May Implement a 4.5-Day Workweek in the Near Future

A 4-day workweek sounds ideal, but a 4-and-a-half day workweek doesn’t sound bad either. Johoreans may be in luck next...

My Post 1 2024 11 21T160023.537 My Post 1 2024 11 21T160023.537
News16 hours ago

“UPSR get D, SPM can get A” – PMX Responds to BERSIH Giving Him a Grade D in ‘Report Card’

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has opened up about BERSIH’s ‘report card‘ on his administration’s performance in conjunction with...

My Post 1 2024 11 21T114442.032 1 My Post 1 2024 11 21T114442.032 1
News20 hours ago

PDRM is Offering 60% Off Selected Traffic Summons at Govt’s 2nd Anniversary Event This Weekend!

In conjunction with the MADANI government’s 2nd anniversary on 24 November (Sunday), the Ministry of Home Affairs of Malaysia (KDN)...

Collage 17 1 Collage 17 1
News2 days ago

MCPF Calls for Vape Ban, Warns Addiction to Substances Can Lead to Unhealthy Behaviours Like Theft

The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) is urging for the sale of e-cigarettes or vape devices to be banned or...

Feat Image Lesen Feat Image Lesen
News2 days ago

Anthony Loke: Road Users in M’sia May Have to Pay for Physical Driving License Cards Starting Next Year

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook today iterated that the Government will continue with the implementation of digital driving licenses...

Collage 15 2 Collage 15 2
News2 days ago

Filipino Couple Caught Living & Working Illegally in Malaysia Using Fake MyKads That Cost RM250 Each

A Filipino husband and wife were arrested during a raid on November 19 at a house in Pandan Indah yesterday...

Feat Image Apple Ind Feat Image Apple Ind
News2 days ago

Apple Offers to Increase Investment in Indonesia Tenfold to RM446 Million to Lift Country’s iPhone 16 Series Ban

Previously, we shared how the Apple iPhone 16 Series is banned from being sold in Indonesia until the tech giant...

My Post 1 2024 11 20T144359.263 My Post 1 2024 11 20T144359.263
News2 days ago

BERSIH Names Ismail Sabri the Best PM Since 2009, Calls Out PMX for Lack of Urgency with Reforms

In conjunction with the upcoming 2nd anniversary (24 November) of Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections,...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY