By Dorcas Ting
KUCHING, Jan 10: The Magistrates’ Court here fined a food manufacturing company RM10,000 for selling kuetiau containing benzoic acid above the permissible level.
The company’s representative pleaded guilty to the charge framed before Magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali.
A Kuching Division Health Office enforcement team took samples of the kuetiau sold by the company at a food premises at Jalan Stutong Baru on April 20, 2022.
Analysis of the samples found that the kuetiau contained 2,516 miligrammes of benzoic acid per kilogramme.
The maximum standard under Regulation 19(2)(b)(ii) of the Food Regulations 1985 is set at 1,000 milligrams per kilogramme.
Further investigation found that the kuetiau was manufactured by the said company.
The company was charged under Section 13B(1) of Food Act 1983 and read together with Section 13B(2)(e) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM20,000 or maximum imprisonment of five years, upon conviction.
Kuching Division Health Office Prosecuting Officer Muhammad Qamarulariffin prosecuted while the company was unrepresented by counsel. — DayakDaily
