Kelantan Health Department to Launch Random Food Sampling at Ramadan Bazaars Starting Friday

KUALA LUMPUR – The Kelantan State Health Department (JKNK) has announced a rigorous food safety operation involving random sampling across all Ramadan bazaars in the state, effective tomorrow. This proactive move is designed to ensure that the surge in food trading during the holy month does not lead to public health crises.

Datuk Dr. Mohd Azman Yacob, the Director of Kelantan State Health, emphasized that the department is leaving nothing to chance. The sampling exercise will specifically target “high-risk” items—food and drinks that are prone to rapid bacterial growth.

According to Dr. Mohd Azman, the surveillance will be heavily concentrated on premises selling coconut milk-based (santan) dishes and various local beverages. These items are popular choices for breaking fast but are notoriously sensitive to temperature changes and unhygienic handling.

“While food may look appealing and smell fresh on the surface, it can harbor microscopic pathogens that are invisible to the naked eye. These microorganisms are the primary culprits behind food poisoning,” Dr. Mohd Azman explained. He added that the laboratory analysis for these samples typically takes between seven to 14 days. Should any sample fail the safety test, the department will initiate immediate legal or administrative action against the respective vendors.

The announcement was made following the launch of the 2026 Kelantan State Level Ramadan Bazaar Walkabout Program, held at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium grounds today. During the event, the Director shared the latest data from ongoing field inspections.

To date, JKNK has inspected a total of 386 stalls and 625 food handlers across the state. The findings provided a mixed picture of compliance:

• Hygiene Standards: 305 premises were officially categorized as “clean” and compliant with basic sanitation requirements.
• Vaccinations: 620 food handlers have successfully obtained their mandatory anti-typhoid injections.
• Violations: Despite the high vaccination rate, 15 compound notices were issued under Section 32B of the Food Act 1983. These penalties were handed out for various infractions under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2009, ranging from improper attire to poor stall maintenance.

While no official reports of food poisoning have been lodged since the start of Ramadan this year, Dr. Mohd Azman credited this to the department’s “pre-emptive strike” strategy.

The JKNK began its monitoring phase long before the first day of fasting by auditing the state’s raw material supply chain. This included thorough inspections of:

• 48 chicken processing plants to ensure poultry safety.
• 30 coconut milk (santan) suppliers to monitor freshness.
• 27 ice manufacturing factories to prevent water-borne contaminants in bazaar drinks.

The Department of Health continues to advise the public to practice the “Look, Smell, and Taste” (Lihat, Hidu, Rasa) method before consuming any bazaar-bought food as a final line of defense against foodborne illnesses.