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Filthy condition sees fucuk factory fined, closed for 2 weeks, again

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A Penang health department officer says the fucuk processing plant had previously been ordered to suspend operations for a similar offence about three years ago.

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A RM5,500 compound was issued by the Penang health department and another RM500 by the Seberang Perai City Council to the factory for operating without a licence. (Bernama pic)

NIBONG TEBAL:
A fucuk (thin dried tofu sheets) processing factory near here has been ordered to close immediately for two weeks after food safety officers found it to be in a filthy condition, with rat droppings found in the food processing area.

Penang Health Department Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM) environmental health officer Mohd Wazir Khalid said that the conditions in the factory was so bad that it was deemed unfit to operate. All food processing work had to be stopped immediately.

“The condition of the fucuk factory was very filthy and worrying,” he told a press conference after a raid conducted at the factory today.

“The main reason for this closure is that we found a lot of rat droppings. There were also flies and cockroaches. All of this can cause both bacterial and physical contamination leading to food poisoning.

“Hence, it is necessary to close it before food poisoning cases occur,” he said, adding that the fucuk product is believed to be marketed to states in the southern region.

Wazir said the factory was also found not to have a valid business licence despite being in operation for more than 10 years. Compounds amounting to RM5,500 were also issued.

“The health ministry has issued a compound based on offences including not labelling food, not being registered under the health ministry and operating without permission.

“A RM500 compound was also issued to the factory by the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) for operating without a licence.

“The closure notice was issued according to Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, effective today,” he said, adding that the fucuk processing plant had previously been ordered to shut down for a similar offence about three years ago.

He said among other offences committed were that a factory worker, who is a Myanmar national, was found to have not received typhoid injections, and did not wear suitable equipment when handling food.

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