Today at 9.00 am ,we were brought in to Unit Keselamatan and Kualiti Makanan by PPKP En.Firdaus. We were briefed about the function of this unit and its role. The Food Act 1983 gives them power to inspect, check any food premise at random. They will also check label, expiry date, manufacturers address on the food product that is been sold at the shop. Mr.Firdaus explained that they will buy 3 food sample from the shop. One of the sample will be sent to Penang Chemical Lab for sampling, while another sample will stored by the unit. Another sample will be given to shop owner if in case the shop owner is not satisfied with test result and decided test at any private chemical lab.
For shop which serves food, there are few criteria that PPKP checks such as cleanliness, Anti-Typhoid vaccination for workers who serve food. If the workers are not vaccinated, they are given 1 week notice to get vaccination. During the inspection of the shop, the shop will be graded by demerit marks. If the premise scores below 70 marks, the shop will be ordered to close for 2 weeks. 2 weeks time is given for the food premise owner to correct their mistake. Failure of the shop to close will result in law suit by the court. After 2 weeks, PPKP will come again to inspect where the shop will allowed to open if the fulfill all the criteria.
For one year, the Unit must take 700 sample from new product, product with history, and international product. But PPKP emphasize more on international product for sampling.
After the briefing, we followed 2 PPKP members for health inspection in Makbul Restaurant. Cleanliness in the kitchen and store are satisfactory. But the food servers are advised some small adjustment they have to do. The PPKP also checked whether all food handlers are immunized with the Anti-Typhoid injection, and to be issued this card by the DHO. This vaccine will last for 3 years once given, so if after 3 years the employee is still handling food, he/she has to receive another shot of Anti-Typhoid. The Makbul Restaurant was given 78 marks and the demerit marks are given based on this form, Borang KKM-PPKM-2/09.
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Time: 2.30pm
Venue: G-mart (Taman Petain Jaya)
Topic: food sampling
Personnel in charge: PPKP En. Firdaous and his colleague
Objectives:
- - ensure that food sampling should be conducted under food act 1983 and food rules and regulations 1985.
- -Basis and method of product inspection and confiscation
- -Methods of sample collection
Food sampling protocol includes:
Ø Field visitation with PPKP personnel, the PPKP uses his/her identity and certification card to make clear the account of visit.
Ø Inspection and choice of the food product needed to be sampled follows the below mentioned criterion.
Ø Payment is to be made to the owner of the store in accordance a receipt is also made
Ø Collection of three samples from each product for analysis
Ø Products are labeled and sealed
Criteria involved for inspection of food products:
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Pre Previous history of any suspicious product sold in market
- International products
- New products in the market
About 700 products are inspected in a year using per product based system where goods are picked and chosen by the food quality and safety department. Sites where inspections are carried out pertain frequently to sundry shops, schools and supermarkets.
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| sample that was confiscated |
Three samples of the same product confiscated are initially purchased and labeled using MOH formal tag. Of which, one sample is to be sent to the Jabatan Kimia Penang (chemical plant) for analysis, the second remains within the site and given to the store owner, the third is taken back to the office of PPKP. All three are relabeled and given identification number. The public is not informed about the confiscation of the marketed product to avoid discrepancy.
The sample sent for chemical analysis checks to see the addition of substances such as aflatosin, PTZ, benzoik/ sorbit, okratosin, proximate, preservatives /additives, level of contamination etc. However a microbiological analysis evaluates bacterial contamination commonly from sources such as E.coli, Bacillus, and Staph. aureus.
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| PPKP Personnel adjusting proper identity tag and label |
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A product labeled and sealed to be sent for chemical, physical and microbiological analysis |
Our exhilarating session came to an end at about 5pm in the evening. Even as the scorching heat and the excruciating Sungai Petani weather made us tired, our spirits were rather heightened. A truly fun filled experience!!
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