One persistent problem continues to baffle and concern many shoppers when they are out buying treats.
Food vendors still use staples to seal traditional delicacies, such as tepung pelita. Despite clear warnings from the Ministry of Health (MOH), some sellers continue this risky practice, raising serious food safety concerns.
“Don’t enable something dangerous”
A Threads post recently circulated in which a man expressed his disbelief that vendors were still using staples to seal the tepung pelita he had encountered. In his post, he clarified that he did not purchase the treats himself but found them while attending a family potluck event.
“Are you trying to kill people? MOH has issued a statement about this, yet you remain ignorant,” he wrote.
“Please don’t be an enabler. Sellers will continue to do this if everyone stays quiet. What if something happens to consumers? If you want to eat a staple, go ahead.”
Legal consequences and penalties
MOH has officially advised all food vendors to stop using staples for food packaging. This is not merely a health recommendation but a legal requirement under the Food Act 1983.
Vendors caught using staples risk heavy penalties, including a maximum fine of RM10,000 and up to two years’ imprisonment. These sanctions are in place because staples can easily fall into the food, posing a serious physical hazard to consumers.
Harsher sanctions for contamination
The penalties become significantly harsher if staple cartridges or any harmful materials are found inside the food itself. In such cases, the offender can be fined up to RM100,000 and/or face imprisonment for up to 10 years.
This strict measure highlights the gravity of compromising food safety. MOH states that anyone who supplies or sells food containing harmful substances is committing a serious offence.
The Ministry urges vendors to adopt safer alternatives, such as string or food-safe clips, for packaging. Shoppers are also encouraged to report vendors who continue to use staples on food packages to ensure public safety.
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