Routine checks on food sold in various forms, be it in packets, can and containers were carried out by Health officers from DBKU on various food outlets, which include supermarkets, grocery shops and food premises for the first quarter of 2008. These checks are carried out to ensure the safety of public health for residents in DBKU jurisdiction. Among the main food seized were 5 items of dented cans, 20 expired products and 6 items of food, all valued at RM215.00 from a total of about 30 premises in the city. Most of the foods seized are as a result of dented cans, expiry dates, rusty cans and blown cans.

To ensure the standard of cleanliness and hygiene for all food outlets, including the kitchen and toilets, DBKU has introduced the grading system for food establishments. Out of its 224 food establishments, 43 have obtained ‘Grade A’. 86 have obtained ‘Grade B’ and the remaining have obtained ‘Grade C’ for the period of grading by the DBKU, health officers from January to March 2008. Efforts have been continuously carried out to upgrade the cleanliness and hygiene of the food premises in the city. These efforts include organizing food handler course and distributing of leaflets to remind food operators to observe food hygiene and cleanliness of their premises at all times, in order to curb food poisoning cases resulting from unhygienic practices by food handlers.

From January to March, 2008 a total of 129 food handlers have attended DBKU’s food handlers course organized jointly with SATT’s Colleges, Jalan Haji Taha. Offenders who flout the law on hygiene were compounded after refusing to heed the rulings implemented by DBKU. From January to March 2008, a total of 12 compounds were issued for various offences under the food laws on food establishments in the city. Through such efforts of education and persuasion, DBKU can further improve and upgrade the level of hygiene for all the food establishments and outlets. These include wearing of clean shirts, with hat and apron, using gloves or tongs when handling food, and keep the kitchen or cooking area clean and hygienic.