KUCHING: A company that supplies various kinds of noodles was handed a fine of RM10,000 by the Magistrates’ Court here for selling kway teow (flat rice noodles) containing benzoic acid in April of last year.
The representative of the company’s Kuching branch admitted to a charge read out by an interpreter in front of magistrate Syarifah Fatimah Azura Wan Ali on Tuesday (Jan 10).
The company was charged under Section 13B(1) of the Food Act 1983 read together with Section 13B(2)(e) of the same Act.
The charges provide for a fine of not more than RM20,000 or a maximum of five years’ imprisonment.
Based on the facts of the case, the offence was committed on April 20, 2022 when enforcement officers of the Food Safety and Quality Unit from the Kuching Divisional Health Office took samples of kway teow sold at food premises in Jalan Stutong Baru here.
The samples were analysed at the Food Safety and Quality Unit laboratory and it was found that the noodles contained benzoic acid at a rate of 2,416mg per kg, which exceeded the maximum standard set under Regulation 19(2)(b)(ii) of 1,000mg per kg.
Prosecuting officer Muhammad Qamarulariffin requested that the court impose a severe sentence as a lesson to the accused and other traders, taking into account the public health policy.
