SEREMBAN: A restaurant which made headlines after a worker was filmed "washing" unsold food to be recycled the next day has been ordered to close for two weeks.
The Negeri Sembilan Health Department said the owner was also slapped with a compound for compromising food safety and unhygienic practices under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
"We carried out an investigation immediately after a clip of a worker washing unsold food containing meat such as chicken and mutton and bean curd went viral on Tuesday (Feb 3).
Action has been taken against the owner under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 ordering him to close the premises until Feb 17," the department said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 4).
The department added that it viewed food safety and hygiene seriously, stating that owners and handlers are dutybound to ensure food is safe for consumption. It warned that such practices can lead to food poisoning.
The issue went viral on Tuesday (Feb 3) after a social media user posted a clip of the worker washing cooked food behind the restaurant after midnight. The worker was seen placing the "washed" items onto trays and allegedly admitted they were to be recooked the following day.
The social media user described the practice as unethical, unsafe and disgusting. "I will post photographs and video clips of this incident as evidence and upload them to social media. I hope the authorities will take stern action against the wrongdoers as I am confident that this is not the first time they have resorted to this," he said.
