TWO salted egg processing factories in Kerian have been ordered to close for 14 days for violating food safety and hygiene guidelines.

A surprise inspection carried out by the Perak Health Department on Thursday revealed that the ingredients used at the factories were exposed to contamination.

State Health Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said some workers did not wear proper kitchen attire, had not received their typhoid vaccination nor attended food-handling courses.

“At the factory in Kuala Kurau, the eggs were not cleaned properly and still had traces of faeces and mud on them before they were processed.

“The poor storage of clay and raw ingredients left the items exposed to infestation. We found rat droppings at their storage place,” he said at a press conference after the operation.

Dr Mah said this was the first time the 50-year-old factory received a two-week closure notice for not complying with the new food regulations.

“In particular, the factory did not comply with Regulation 9 under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, which requires food safety assurance programmes at all food processing factories,” he said, adding that the factory also lacked a food traceability system.

At the Tanjung Piandang factory, Dr Mah said although it looked relatively clean and modern at first glance, the inspection team found maggots on the premises.

“The workers were also packaging salted egg yolks with their bare hands.

“This could expose consumers to many health hazards as their food handling method allows contamination from bacteria, pests and insects,” he said.

The factories were ordered to cease all operations for two weeks under the Food Act 1983 to clean up and meet the requirements.

After the time period given, officers would inspect the factories again. If the owners have complied with the rules and regulations, they would be allowed to resume business. Otherwise, the closure would be extended.

Dr Mah said so far, the Health Department has inspected 67 food processing factories throughout the state this year and three have been ordered to close, including these two factories.

He said in 2016, a total of 317 factories were inspected, with 16 ordered to close, while 2015 saw 214 factories inspected with 17 ordered to close.

-The Star-