Two popular restaurants in Penang, frequented by university students, were ordered to close yesterday (11 October) for 14 days due to non-compliance with hygiene regulations.
Cockroaches on the kitchen wall were not the only concern, rat droppings were also found on the surface of an unused fridge located on the premises.
The Timur Laut District Health Office inspected both establishments and issued closure notices under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983. Safety Operation and Food Quality Officer M. Shashikumaran stated that one of the restaurants, which serves Thai cuisine, committed 11 offenses. The workers had not attended food safety training courses, nor had they received typhoid vaccinations.
Other offenses include,
- Failure to label food items
- Use of broken utensils and equipment
- Improper defrosting of poultry
- Keeping a damaged fridge on the premises
The restaurant’s floor, ceiling, and walls were also found to be in filthy condition. The first compound was issued under Regulation 35(1)(a) of the Food Act 1983, while the second was issued under Regulation 11(1)(c). The total compound issued to the owner amounted to RM1,000.
The second restaurant faced similar issues
Officers from the department identified 12 violations during an inspection of the Arab rice restaurant located next to the Thai restaurant.
Shashikumaran said cockroaches were found roaming the kitchen, and droppings were spotted on a refrigerator that was no longer in use.
“In addition, food handlers were found to have no typhoid vaccination records, and the trash bins were not covered.”
“Meanwhile, the floor, walls, extractor hood, and refrigerator were also in a dirty and unsatisfactory condition,” Shashikumaran said, as reported by Harian Metro.
During the inspection, dozens of cockroaches were seen crawling on the walls and various parts of the premises. In fact, several enforcement officers reportedly stepped on cockroaches during the inspection.
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