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A FRANCHISE eatery at a Kota Kinabalu shopping mall has been compounded by City Hall for contravening its (Food & Eating Premises) By-laws 1966.

A spokeswoman for the agency’s Environmental Health Department said the operator of the premises was penalised for failing to ensure that his/her staff were properly certified.

“Several of his/ her food-handlers had health documents which were expired,” she said, adding that a penalty of up to RM500 could be imposed in such circumstances.

“The franchise owner was formally asked to see that his attendants underwent the necessary health screening, including receiving anti-typhoid shots.”

The Department’s check was prompted after a customer called out the levels of hygiene practised at the eatery. 

The diner from Papar was unhappy about the disconcerting smell coming from the plastic cup which was served to him. The item reeked strongly of a cockroach-stink, according to him.

He pointed out this irregularity to two separate staff. One assured him that the cup had been steeped in hot water before being brought to his table. The other admitted that the eatery had a problem with cockroaches.

The patron provided Hotline with the pertinent details regarding his grievance, which were forwarded to the agency.

The spokeswoman said two personnel with City Hall’s “Unit Keselamatan dan Kualiti Makanan (Food Safety and Quality Unit)” went to the premises, shortly after learning about what had happened.

A check was made of the dining area, including the counter where some of the food and drinks were put together, and kitchen, according to her. 

“No cockroaches were spotted running about the eatery on this occasion,” she said. 

“However, they did pick up the distinct odour associated with these insects in some of the exposed sections and open storage racks, especially the one where the cups were kept.” 

She said the manager on duty was queried about this stink.

“Our staff were made to understand that the eatery had engaged the services of pest exterminators who had most recently gone to the premises at the end of July.”

She said the level of cleanliness was later assessed by the Unit’s personnel, with the eatery receiving a “B” grade.

Since 2014, the agency has been using the Federal Ministry of Local Government and Housing’s Food Premises Grading System (FPGS) to assess the cleanliness of eateries within its rating area.

Premises owners are awarded marks for fulfilling the criteria set out in seven separate categories as part of the grading score sheet. 

Under the FPGS, an “A” – between 100-86 per cent of the total score – indicates that the premises is “amat bersih (extremely clean)”, while a “D” – 50 per cent or below – indicates that it is “tidak bersih (unclean)”. 

“Eateries, which earn between 85-71 per cent, are considered ‘bersih’ (clean), per the Ministry’s guidelines,” the spokeswoman said.

“The food outlet achieved an 87 per cent score. However, we couldn’t give the eatery an ‘A’.” 

She said the shortcomings related to the food handling skills and health certificates of the staff factored as “critical control points (CCPs)” in this decision. 

She hoped the operator would double-up his/ her maintenance efforts so that the establishment might be granted an “A grade” in the near future.

The Unit’s personnel provided the duty manager with pointers and how this could be done, according to her.

 “He/ She was also advised not to store his/ her tableware, especially the cups, plates and bowls, in the open. We called on the individual to have these items placed in covered containers.”

She said the operator was also informed to have a fresh pest control exercise performed at the eatery.

“On top of this, he/ she were asked to address the CCPs. A ‘notis penambahbaikan (improvement notice)’ to this affect was issued to the owner.”

The spokeswoman said the operator was given a grace-period in which to meet City Hall’s requirements. 

“A follow-up inspection will be carried out after this. Further action can be taken against the individual, if we find that our instructions have fallen on deaf ears.”