BUTTERWORTH: The Health Ministry has urged parties donating food to welfare homes and tahfiz centres to prioritise food safety.
In a statement issued on Thursday (June 20), the ministry said the Food Bank's Safety Guidelines stipulate measures for both donors and recipients on how to handle contributed food.
"Food donors should ensure that the food provided is safe to eat and include information on the time and date of its preparation and its expiry period.
"The food should also be consumed within four hours of preparation.
"Recipients of donated food must record this information and ensure that the food received is in good condition and safe by looking, smelling, and tasting it upon receipt," the statement read.
It added that recipients have the right to refuse food if it is received in poor condition, with broken packaging, or without preparation information.
In response to media reports raising concerns about donated food going to waste or leading to poisoning among consumers, the Health Ministry said it takes the matter seriously.
"Through the Food Safety and Quality Programme, we always focus on the prevention and control of food poisoning at all levels of the food chain," it added.
The Food Bank Safety Guidelines can be downloaded at hq.moh.gov.my/fsq.
