Media yesterday reported one of the  victims of the foam pudding poisoning case in Trengganu died.  Incidents of food  poisoning  were first reported during the  Eid al-Fitr season.  Iam  a sad event for  all of  us in Malaysia.

In the context  of  the background of  basic facilities i.e. clean water  supply, environmental hygiene  and  food quality in Malaysia compared to the  distribution of  diseases bfoodwaan, the incidence of death from Foodborne diseases   for a country like ours are actually a tragedy.  It is a  serious impact that needs to be noted  and requires  immediate relevant solutions.

In general  , during the Movement Control Order (MCO)  season,  online business is the main platform  in most essential  goods. It also involves the sale of dry foodstuffs as well as ready-to-cook   foods. The Ministry of Health n Malaysia has issued  the Guidelines  on the Preparation of Food sold online to be followed by  the operators involved. The  complete guidelines (http://fsq.moh.gov.my/v6/xs/page.php?id=441000617) dated 20 April  are among the  latest  guidelines prepared to meet the  current requirements in the MCO  temph .

However, the guidelines dated April 20  may not have  gone unnoticed by some of  those involved.   This may be because it only exists as a  guideline  that gives recommendations and recommendations only without any enforcement of regulations.  To date  there has been no change in   the  existing Food  Act to enforce it for those involved in the online  food business.

In  the existing regulations under the  Food Act 1983, all food handlers are required to attend the Food Preparation Course, it is mandatory to  receive injections to prevent typhoid fever as well as food premises   and the manner in which their handling is checked and monitored from time to time.  In order to ensure that the license obtained  is not suspended or revoked  as well as to prevent their food premises from being confiscated,  food handlers must comply with all the rules below   The Food Act.

However, when a person is involved in   online business, there are certain requirements to be complied with before enforcement coverage under the Food Act can be done.   Compared to  premis food that exists  in  the realm  where inspection and monitoring can be done anytime, for this online business they usually  have several food preparation places as well as sometimes prepare food in places different  from the specified  address.  There are also those who sell the  food in question but are not legally registered in accordance with the  requirements of the law.  This situation  makes it difficult for the enforcement process to be carried out.

Due to the existence of this business on talian is not very real in  the view of the  general public, thus making it difficult to  monitor work by  the Health Division, it is proposed to oblige all businesses to be required    online to register with the system at the Ministry of Health before being  granted business. The Ministry of Health should cooperate with the  Multimedia and Communications Commission  for the  purpose of monitoring the online food business.

A  verification system for all food handling activities should be established in mana among them,  food handling activities by traders should be recorded via a closed  circuit camera on a  live basis.  to be monitored at any time by the Ministry.   Alternatively, there is also a need to require  food entrepreneurs to post their food preparation 'live' events on  their respective social media sites. A   star rating system should  also be established where only operators who achieve a certain quality through the  evaluation of the Ministry and  the public  are sanctioned to publicize  marketing them digitally.

It is also  recommended for specific applications or Apps  to include all their registered  data  as well as the level of compliance of food handlers in compliance with the   Ministry's latest guidelines to adopt  as a reference by the general public.  Although this proposal is  seen as    difficult to implement,  the priority of  preserving the  lives of the general public to avoid death or serious food poisoning should be made  The basis of  motivation for us to  make a difference  .

Our lifestyle  has changed significantly compared to 20-30 years ago.  Through the existence of   mobile apprentice tools,  our increasingly widespread communication through digital  systems as well as social media platforms, so the rules as well  as the laws also need to change in a  way  escort. It is not very appropriate to enforce an  act that is already  in the tens whose situation is already much different compared to  what we are experiencing in the present.

A drastic approach  should be taken immediately to prevent a recurrence of cases of poisoning as well as serious complications such as death.  All agencies involved must work together without prioritizing other agendas other than the interests of public.   Not denying that  change is  a bit difficult, but through our  seriousness as   we have shown in the  face  of the covid19  pandemic must continue to be continued to  other  infectious diseases such as  this food poisoning case.

Prof Associate Dr Malina Osman

Public Health  Physician

Department of  Medical Microbiology and Parasitology

Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM

malinaosman@upm.edu.my

0136298572

Date of Input: 27/09/2022 | Updated: 27/09/2022 | nooryati