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JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: The state Health Department has intensified its inspection to make sure all festive foodstuffs sold are safe for consumption.
The operation, codenamed Ops Shu 2008, began on Jan 24 and included an inspection of supermarkets, mini markets and sundry shops in Johor. It will be carried out until the Chinese New Year.
As of Jan 31, the department had checked 116 premises and sent the food samples taken for analysis.
Johor Health director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa said 17 of the 77 samples tested for boric acid were positive.
He said the food include yellow noodles, kway teow, kuih nyonya and kuih bak chang.
He said the person responsible would be charged under Section 13 (1) of the Food Act 1983 for preparing or selling food containing substances injurious to health.
If convicted, the person is liable to a fine not exceeding RM100,000 or up to 10 years? jail or both.
"We have also sent 22 samples for beta agonist test but the result has yet to be finalised,'' he told a press conference at his office here on Friday.
He said imported products such as fruits, mushroom, wax duck and seaweed would be tested for pesticides, colouring, preservative and heavy metal substances.
Dr Marzukhi said his officers had seized 620 can foods worth some RM78,000 from these premises.
"The canned foods seized were dented, expired or found to have labelling problems and were not safe to be consumed,'' he said, adding these products would be destroyed.
Dr Marzukhi said the department has also stepped up checks on the cleanliness of premises selling food including restaurants and hawker centres during this period.
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