MELAKA: The Health Department has ordered a supermarket in Jasin here to close its storeroom for 14 days after cat droppings and other contaminants were found there.

       Melaka health and anti-drug committee chairman Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh said cat faeces could lead to toxoplasmosis in people.

       "The management of the supermarket was also slapped with a compound notice for not ensuring food safety," he said on Thursday (April 21) after leading a surprise food safety check in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri season.

       Dr Muhamad Akmal said the health authorities discovered that packs of food past their expiry date, some as far back as 2019, were found on the supermarket's shelves.

       He said the same establishment was found to be selling rotten chicken meat.

       "It is our (responsibility) to address food safety risks and prevent food poisoning.

       "We will take punitive measures to ensure fresh and uncontaminated edible items are sold to the people," he said.

       Dr Muhamad Akmal said the state health authorities had issued five compound notices totalling RM15,000 since April 11 to various premises for disregarding food safety.

       He added that 790 food packages worth RM4,743 had been seized, and a total of RM38,500 in compound notices issued, from January this year up to Thursday.

       On a separate matter, he said the Integrated Quarantine and Treatment Centre at Ayer Keroh here will be closed from April 30.

       He said the closure was in view of the sharp decline in Covid-19 infection rates.

       High-risk patients would subsequently be treated at Hospital Melaka, he added.