Five die from food poisoning as cases hit 12,899 this year

Between January and August of this year, five individuals tragically lost their lives due to food poisoning, while 12,899 cases were reported across the nation during the same period. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed that these figures were among the factors prompting the government to propose an increase in fines and maximum prison terms under the Food (Amendment) Bill 2026.

He criticized the existing penalties, noting that they had not been updated in 43 years and were no longer proportionate to the offenses committed. For instance, in a food poisoning incident at Sekolah Menengah Sains Teluk Intan, six students were hospitalized after consuming an omelette contaminated with Salmonella spp., resulting only in a RM3,000 fine.

Similarly, the laksa kebuk incident in Kedah, which led to 61 cases and two deaths, only incurred a RM1,500 fine in 2018. The minister questioned whether such penalties were fitting given the harm caused to the public. The proposed amendments under the new bill would impose penalties of up to RM25,000, or a maximum of five years in prison, or both, for violations of the Act.

Dzulkefly emphasized that higher penalties were essential to deter offenses against regulations made under the Act, particularly for repeat offenses and to facilitate full cooperation during investigations and enforcement. The severity of the penalty would depend on the scale and size of the business, as well as the seriousness and type of offense, with sentencing left to the discretion of the court, taking into account any mitigating factors.