MBSA’s audit system benefits both council and restaurants

Shah Alam mayor Datuk Ahmad Zaharin Mohd Saad observing a clean-up in Taman Sri Muda during food premises inspections this year. (Right) Food was found in the drain near the cooking area of a restaurant in Seksyen 32, Shah Alam. — filepics

DIRTY floors and kitchens with cockroach droppings, unhygienic workers and unimaginable food handling methods — the Shah Alam City Council’s Environment Health and Licensing Department has seen it all while doing their rounds this year.

All in all the council had carried out 54 inspections covering 896 restaurants and stalls.

Corporate communications head Shahrin Ahmad said the inspections stemmed from the Food Premises Cleanliness Audit System, as well as complaints made against food outlets.

The audit system, introduced a year ago, required restaurant owners to apply and pay RM100 to have their restaurants inspected and graded. Restaurants that are not graded are given compounds upon routine inspection or when complaints are made.

Through this system, restaurants with Grade A are inspected every six months, while those graded B or C every three months.

Shah Alam City Council Environmental Health Department director Dr Roslan Fadzil said it was a system that benefited both the council and food premises owner.

“With a good grade, food premises can lure customers and show them that they are clean. At the same time, this helps the council meet its target of ensuring all food premises keep cleanliness at a satisfactory level,” he said during a seminar for new business license owners in November.

The system also makes inspections more robust as spot checks are done more frequently.

In August, StarMetro saw just how unsightly some kitchens could be even when the shopfront looked clean.

During a routine check in Section 32, Shah Alam, three restaurants in the commercial area had were ordered to close while two others were fined RM500.

The five were among seven restaurants that were slapped with notices by the council for violating clauses under the Food Establish­ment By-law MBSA 2007 and Infectious Disease Control Act 1988.

One of the three ordered to close was found to have rat droppings and cockroaches in the kitchen, with food left exposed as well. In another, food that was just cooked spilled but was not cleared from the drain in the kitchen.

Dr Roslan also caught workers picking up food from the floor and placing them back on a food tray.

In total, 252 compounds were given out for lack of cleanliness and for not adhering to the dos and don’ts of running a food outlet.

Most food premises were given compounds because their workers had not received anti-typhoid injection, did not install grease traps or used the back lane to prepare food.

A total of 75 premises were ordered to close while 10 were given demerit points. Those who accumulated 12 demerit points lose their licence.

In November, the council announced that it would promote food premises that maintained Grade A on their website and social media sites. Roslan said this would serve as recommendations to visitors to the city, and it would also encourage the public to help the council identify food premises that required inspection.

He advised all food premises owners who hired foreign workers to educate them on the importance of personal hygiene from head to toe and also in food preparation and handling.