JKNK TO START TAKING FOOD SAMPLES AT RAMADAN BAZAARS TOMORROW

KOTA BHARU, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan State Health Department (JKNK) will take random food samples at all Ramadan bazaars in the state starting tomorrow, said its director Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob.

He said the inspections would also focus on premises selling risky foods and drinks containing coconut milk.

"Sometimes the food looks good but there may be germs that we don't see that can cause food poisoning.

"The results of the food samples we took are expected to be known in one or two weeks, before further action is taken against the traders concerned," he said.

He said this after officiating the Kelantan State Level Ramadan Bazaar Walkabout Programme 2026 at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium compound here today.

Commenting further, Dr Mohd Azman said that to date, 386 stalls and 625 Ramadan bazaar food operators in Kelantan have been inspected.

"Of the total, 305 premises are at a clean level, while 620 food operators were found to have received anti-typhoid injections.

"As a result of the inspection and monitoring operations, 15 compound notices under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983 were issued to food operators who committed various offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009," he said.

He said that so far, his party had not received any reports or complaints related to food poisoning at the Ramadan bazaar.

"We have also actually carried out comprehensive monitoring throughout the state before Ramadan involving high-risk raw material supply centres such as 48 chicken processing factories, 30 coconut milk supplier premises and 27 ice processing factories," he said.

-- BERNAMA