MOH conducts verification on popular biscuit factories
October 23, 2021
MOH conducts verification on popular biscuit factories
Preliminary investigation found that the factory premises are the holder of the MOH HACCP certificate.
PUTRAJAYA: The Food Safety and Quality Division (BKKM), Ministry of Health Malaysia (KKM) is conducting verification at the premises of a popular biscuit factory following reports claiming that the biscuits sold in Hong Kong contain carcinogens.
Carcinogens are substances that can cause the growth of cancer in living cells and tissues.
BKKM in its statement on Friday informed, every food production premise in Malaysia is required to implement food safety assurance program (PKJKM) such as Industry Responsibility Safe Food Certification Scheme (MeSTI), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and others. as stipulated by Regulation 9, Food Hygiene Regulations 2009.
"The implementation of PJKM can identify hazard risks and further reduce or eliminate food contamination," according to the statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the initial investigation found that the factory premises were the holder of the MOH HACCP certificate.
"The division took note of the publication of Choice Magazine on the Hong Kong Consumers Association website regarding the monitoring of 60 brands of flour confectionery products including biscuits sold in the Hong Kong market," the statement said.
The report also listed two other well -known biscuits manufactured in Malaysia in the list.
Excerp of the Report:
Among the Top 5 biscuits with the most cancer-causing agents were Malaysian favourites such as Hup Seng Special Cream Crackers, Ritz Crackers Cheese Flavoured Sandwich, Jacob’s Original Cream Crackers 93% Wheat Cereal, and Oreo Mini Oreo Original.Some of these are local favourites.
(Credit: South China Morning Post)
Besides that, over 75% (46 products) of tested samples were found to contain 3 kinds of carcinogens (glycidol, 3-MCPD, and acrylamide) at the same time.
Misleading packaging
While legally, food manufacturing companies are allowed a 20% deviation between the actual nutritional value of the product and the stated value on the packaging, many were found to be blatantly lying.
The Hong Kong Consumer Council noted that 38% (23 products) had nutrient labels claiming values of more than 20% of the actual nutritional content of the biscuit. Three of the 60 samples were also exempted from such labelling rules.
