Six bread factories in Penang ordered to close down

Six bread factories in Penang were ordered closed for 14 days from yesterday when inspection by the State Health Department found that the premises were dirty and did not comply with the cleanliness level

specified.

State Deputy Director of Health (Food Safety and Quality Division) Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said the premises ordered closed were two each in Seberang Perai Utara and Seberang Perai Selatan and one each in Timur Laut and Seberang Perai Tengah districts.

"Two of the six bread factories are producers of popular brands in the state and all the premises concerned (six) had previously been issued warnings for ignoring the cleanliness aspect.

"Owners of the premises concerned have been given 14 days to undertake cleaning work under Section 11 of the Food Act 1983 before being inspected again," she said at a press conference, here today.

She said an inspection found that the factories concerned allowed the ingredients for making the bread especially flour and sugar to be left open to the extent that flies were perching on them; there were rat droppings in the store; and the dough for the bread were left on the floor without any lining.

"There were also bread factories using refrigerators that were dirty and covered with fungus while the workers failed to adhere to the dress code and did not wear head cover and face masks and gloves," she said.