Houseflies were seen on the dough at a bakery factory in Kampung Melayu in Ayer Itam. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
Houseflies were seen on the dough at a bakery factory in Kampung Melayu in Ayer Itam. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
 Northeast District Health Department officer show the rat droppings found on a rack at a bakery factory in Jalan Datuk Keramat. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
Northeast District Health Department officer show the rat droppings found on a rack at a bakery factory in Jalan Datuk Keramat. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
The dirty and unhygienic environment at the bakery factory. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
The dirty and unhygienic environment at the bakery factory. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
Stacks of dough left besides the toilet where the gent’s door was left open. Pix by Syakir Wahab.
Stacks of dough left besides the toilet where the gent’s door was left open. Pix by Syakir Wahab.

GEORGE TOWN: A leading bakery in Jalan Datuk Keramat here was sealed off for two weeks after State health authorities found rat droppings in its premises during a spot check today.

Although health inspectors did not find any rats during the two-hour long spot check on the bakery, which is popular for its roti Benggali, they found to their surprise that two trolleys with stacks of dough left beside the toilet, with its door ajar in the operation which began at 9am.

Grossing out the officers, from the Northeast District Health Department, was the discovery of human hair-like items in a container with oil, which are used to knead the dough.

The raiding party also found to their disgust that several workers were simply throwing excess dough on the wet floor instead of collecting them in a bin for disposal later.

Checks later revealed, the premises was devoid of any bins for the disposal of unwanted food wastes or other materials.

None of the 10 workers were wearing hair covers, gloves or face masks although it is a requirement under Section 32 (B) of the Food Regulations, 2009.

For more read NST’s Northern Streets section tomorrow - Nov18