The Kedah Health Department identified two outlets selling what are dubbed as 'Dragon Breath' cookies feared to be harmful to the health of consumers but found that the premises closed down three days ago.

Its director, Datuk Dr Norhizan Ismail, said today the department was notified by the Consumers Association of Kedah of five complaints it had received on consumers suffering burns after eating the cookies.

After getting the complaints, the department sent officers to the venues of the two outlets, at the Darulaman Stadium area and Bandar Baru Mergong, but the two premises had ceased operations, he said.

"We feel the operators had taken the precautionary move (to shut down operations) to avoid facing action after the issue went viral (on social media)," he said.

Dr Norhizan said the department would continue to monitor the situation.

It is believed that liquid nitrogen is used to 'produce' the fumes in the Dragon Breath cookies.

Director-General of Health Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah had said that liquid nitrogen was not dangerous if handled properly in food preparation.

He had said in a statement that food producers using liquid nitrogen should ensure that it had fully evaporated before selling their products to consumers so as to avoid cryogenic burns or frostbite.

Dr Norhizan said it was hoped that food producers and consumers in Kedah would take the advice into consideration.

He advised the public to lodge complaints or provide information to the department through the district health offices or over the website http://jknkedah.moh.gov.my or the department's Facebook account if they had doubts about the safety of food in the market. -- Bernama