The government of Malaysia through its Ministry of Health is rather strict in making sure that the regulations and policies they put forth are followed by owners of food businesses. The responsibility of checking the safety of food offered in restaurants and eateries is performed by the Ministry’s Food Quality Control Division. If you are planning to start a restaurant or you already own one, it’s important that you follow the rules. Your business permit can be revoked if inspectors from the ministry see that you’re not in compliance with any of them.
Here are some of the steps you should follow if you want to complete and pass the tests and ocular inspections done by the representatives of the Ministry of Health:
- You must come up with a clear plan on how and where you will get your raw ingredients. You must divulge this information in your business documents. Make sure that your sources and suppliers also follow government regulations on food supply safety. Since you are at the end of the supply chain, you will be the first to be inspected if contamination is found in the food that your restaurant serve.
- Set up an efficient storage system for both of your raw materials and other food supplies. One rule is that your raw ingredients like vegetables, fruits, and meat are stored separately from processed ingredients. This is to avoid cross-contamination between the two kinds of ingredients.
- Make sure that you have all the necessary quality control measurement tools. These include thermometers, timers, scales, scoops, spoodles, measuring spoons, measuring cups, meters, and ladles. Always remember that the Ministry of Health has certain guidelines on how raw materials are stored and cooked. For instance, the ministry requires that meat products should be stored at 18 degrees Celsius. It’s important that you are aware of these specific policies.
- Set up an efficient waste disposal system. One of the most common reasons why a lot of food establishments get their permits revoked is that they don’t have a clear waste disposal system. The kitchen can be messy with all the food wastes and it won’t look good in the eyes of government inspectors if you don’t have a clear-cut disposal system. You can deal with this problem by setting up an area which is a good distance away from the kitchen which can serve as your dumping area for all food wastes.
- Maintain a clean and organized kitchen. This is a no-brainer but a lot of restaurant owners seem to take it for granted. Make sure that all the utensils are clean. Instruct your employees to mop up the floor every few hours. And last but not least, see to it that all food wastes are taken out at the end of the day to prevent contamination or pest infestation at night.
You have to keep in mind that inspections in food establishments are usually done at least once a year. In some instances, the inspectors will arrive unannounced and during random periods. With that said, you should make sure that you are in compliance will all the regulations at all time. You can get this done by doing the steps and practical tips discussed above.