Yiing (second right) and his team examine canned food products at an eatery during an inspection.
SIBU (April 28): The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has expressed concern over the sale and use of expired food and beverages at eateries under its jurisdiction.
SMC Public Health, Environment and Municipal Services Standing Committee deputy chairman Councillor Yiing Sy Huat said recent enforcement operations found several premises storing expired products, with operators claiming they were unaware as the items were supplied by distributors.
“Ignorance cannot be used as an excuse — traders must carefully inspect supplies and expiry dates to ensure consumer safety.
“With expired items being detected repeatedly, we will step up monitoring and raise the matter at the committee level.
“If enforcement is not carried out strictly, it may encourage complacency among traders,” he said after a surprise inspection of eateries along Jalan Wawasan here on Monday.
Yiing said some of the products appeared newly packaged despite having already expired.
He also noted several hygiene issues, including greasy kitchen floors, worn-out and dirty crockery and chopping boards, and food handlers not wearing proper footwear, aprons or caps, as well as non-compliant grease traps.
“Checks behind one premises found drains coated with thick layers of oil, despite claims of year-end cleaning.
“A nearby car wash is also discharging sand and sludge that contributes to blockages,” he said.
Six eateries were inspected during the operation, with five issued cleanliness notices and one compounded.
