Officers inspect stall at Perasing R&R after woman dies of food poisoning

 

The Perasing R&R near Kemaman was opened in 2017 for the convenience of motorists using the East Coast Highway. (Bernama pic)

KUALA TERENGGANU: The Terengganu health department is awaiting the results of the analysis of food samples after a 54-year-old woman allegedly died of food poisoning after eating a sandwich at an R&R stop in Kemaman on Tuesday.

State health director Kasemani Embong said the Kemaman health office received a notification about the matter on Tuesday and proceeded to investigate by taking food samples from a food stall at the Perasing rest and service area on the same day.

“The Kemaman health office received notification of a case of food poisoning involving a 54-year-old woman who experienced symptoms after eating food bought at the Perasing R&R.

“She started experiencing symptoms of a stomach ache, diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming food believed to be stale.

“Following the notification, some food samples and swabs of equipment and food handlers have been taken for investigation. The health office is waiting for the results of these samples,” she said in a statement today.

The results will be obtained within two weeks at the earliest.

Kasemani said an initial inspection revealed several offences under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009 and corrective instructions had been issued to the owners and food operators at the R&R.

She said the department took food poisoning cases seriously and instructed food operators to always ensure the cleanliness and safety of food or drinks sold.

“The public is also advised to practise the concept of ‘look, smell and taste’ before eating to avoid consuming stale food,” she said.

Yesterday, a post went viral on social media about a woman who allegedly died after eating a sandwich bought at the Perasing R&R in Kemaman.

Sahara Nabillah, in a post shared on the LPT (East Coast Highway) Facebook account, claimed that the victim was her aunt from Johor who had gone to Terengganu for her child’s university registration at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin.

“Stopped to eat at the R&R, (and) ate a sandwich bought at the R&R. Apparently stale,” she wrote in her Facebook post.

Sahara said her aunt was warded at the ICU of Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital but she died later. The remains were brought to Johor Bahru for burial. - FMT