Kuala selangor: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is accelerating efforts to strengthen food safety control at all levels to achieve the target of less than 50 cases of food poisoning per 100,000 population by the year 2030. Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, stated that the target includes the industry, public food premises, and educational institutions, aligning with the National Food Safety Action Plan 2024-2030 and the National Food Safety Policy 2.0.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Dzulkefly emphasized the importance for traders to prioritize food hygiene and safety, ensuring that food sold is clean, of quality, and safe for consumption. He encouraged the public to adopt the 'Observe and Choose' concept by selecting clean premises and prioritizing food quality, advising consumers to practice 'Look, Smell, Taste' before enjoying their iftar to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
Dr Dzulkefly made these remarks at the 2026 National Ramadan Bazaar and the launch of the Hygiene and Food Campaign at the Ramadan Bazaar Lotus's Kuala Selangor. He also noted that the monitoring of safety and cleanliness at Ramadan bazaars commenced early this month, with cooperation from all State Health Departments and local authorities to gather information on the sites and the number of stalls operating.
To date, over 200 sessions on hygiene and safe food handling have been organized, involving stall owners from 77,583 stalls at 1,274 Ramadan bazaar sites nationwide. Inspections have been conducted on food preparation premises, including restaurants and hotels that provide iftar buffets, with a total of 426 inspections carried out on ice factories, restaurants, and hotels.
Dr Dzulkefly reported only one complaint related to the cleanliness of a Ramadan bazaar during the first two days of fasting through the Public Complaints Management System (SiSPAA). He warned that business premises owners selling stale food throughout Ramadan would face actions under the Food Act 1983, and Ramadan bazaar traders committing offenses would also be subject to enforcement.
In other developments, Dr Dzulkefly assured that the supply of medicines remains sufficient despite a slight increase in new tuberculosis (TB) cases detected nationwide. The media reported 596 new TB cases detected nationwide up to the sixth Epidemiological Week of 2026, bringing the total number of cases to 3,161.
He advised the public to practice proper coughing and sneezing etiquette and to ensure good ventilation in enclosed spaces, emphasizing that Ramadan is not the cause of the disease's spread. However, the increase in social activities and gatherings during this month generally enhances interactions among the community.