MAY , 2023 | THE HEALTH

| The Health says ... |

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Bazaar Romadhon or ‘ bazir ’ Romadhon ? Muslims must truly understand the real meaning of Romadhon as the month of self-reflection , abstinence , humility , giving and saving on food and expenditure

P22

The science of stress and dealing with it There are a number of strategies that can be implemented to deal with stress

P23

What is a rare disease ? It is estimated that over 300 million people around the globe are living with a rare disease

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A debilitating disease One of the challenges in detecting tuberculosis is that it doesn ’ t present symptoms immediately

P25 People

• Change of guard at Health Ministry

• Sitiawan-born scientist leads space stem cell research

• Malaysian doctor wins prestigious global award

• Dr Yii appointed special adviser to Health Minister

P26-27

The difference between a life saved and lost Despite its life-saving importance , knowledge and occurrence of first aid are worryingly low

For one , it shows we are not up to the mark in monitoring the quality of food products being exported , let alone being sold locally . Is it sheer complacency , incompetence , corruption or a combination of them ?

Recently , Taiwanese authorities found cancercausing substances in a batch of instant noodles from Malaysia . In August 2022 , the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) ordered a recall of peanut butter over fears of salmonella contamination following the US authorities flagging a batch .

In September 2022 , Singapore recalled a Malaysian manufactured soy sauce product after detecting excessive benzoic acid levels contravening Singapore Food Regulations . And there have been numerous instances where Malaysian vegetables have been turned away by Singapore due to high pesticide levels .

Ethics in business is important . It ’ s not just about complying to health standards . It ’ s also about ensuring profits don ’ t take precedence over the health of consumers .

Even local food operators flout the law . We have had unhygienic restaurants , caterers and food stalls selling contaminated , stale or toxic food , often leading to food poisoning .

Consumer associations have called on the relevant authorities to step up enforcement . They say although we have a set of comprehensive laws to regulate food safety , there is a lack of enforcement .

But there is only so much the MoH can do with its limited resources . At best it conducts random food sampling just as is being done in other countries .

So , the onus to ensure quality falls on the manufacturers and exporters . They must have their own standard operating procedures and comply with good manufacturing practices ( GMP ). Knowingly using substances such as ethylene oxide above permissible levels is unacceptable .

According to the MoH ’ s food safety and quality division , food exports must comply with the laws of importing countries . Similarly , importers must also ensure strict adherence to the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985 when importing food .

It ’ s time to crack the whip against food manufacturers and exporters who flout the law . Just recalling products or imposing a fine is not a deterrent .

Why not consider imposing custodial sentences for those found guilty ? After all , we are talking about lives being at stake here .