Rat-infested fishball factory in George Town ordered closed

A fishball factory in Jalan Paya Terubong, here, was ordered closed for two weeks from today for operating in a dirty condition.

The enforcement operation involving 13 personnel from the Health Department and Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) found packed food left on the floor, moldy refrigerators and the workers mixing the fish meat without using gloves.

A spokesman from the Northeast District Health Office, said rat feces were found in the factory's storeroom and flies all over the fishcakes being dried.

"The factory operator was also found to be using an old and dirt-covered fan to dry the cooked stuff and we could see dust flying from the fan," the spokesman told reporters during the inspection at the factory.

The spokesman said the factory was ordered to be closed for 14 days under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983, and the owner must clean up the premises before another inspection be conducted and the factory allowed to resume operations.

Meanwhile, the MPPP issued six summonses to the factory operator with the compound fines amounting to RM750 for committing various offences, including channelling used cooking oil straight to the drain and for improper solid waste management.