AWARENESS OF FOOD PREMISES HAVING BESS RECOGNITION STILL LOW IN KELANTAN

KOTA BHARU, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- Awareness among food premises owners in Kelantan to obtain the Clean, Safe and Healthy (BeSS) recognition is still low, even though it is provided free of charge by the government, said Kelantan Health director Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob.

Mohd Azman said out of more than 5,000 food premises in the state, only about 235 premises have received this recognition so far.

According to him, most entrepreneurs prioritise taste and sales alone, whereas BeSS emphasises commitment to premises cleanliness, good food handling and user safety.

"The level of awareness among consumers is also very low as they tend to choose premises based on food taste without considering certification or hygiene standards," he told reporters after the Malaysian Halal Certification Presentation Ceremony here today.

He said his team will continue to promote BeSS recognition as it not only benefits consumers but also enhances the image and trust in food premises.

Meanwhile, he advised catering entrepreneurs to obtain the Trust MyCatering certificate introduced by the Ministry of Health to ensure food safety and compliance with hygiene standards, especially for large-scale food preparation.

So far, only 58 food providers in Kelantan have the Trust MyCatering certificate, and it is hoped that more entrepreneurs will apply because it's free and valid for three years before renewal," he added.

-- BERNAMA