SHAH ALAM, May 28 — Malaysia has been urged to introduce specific guidelines for retort foods to strengthen safety, quality control, and consumer protection, following the rapid growth of retort-based products in the market.
Universiti Putra Malaysia's Food Technology Department senior lecturer Dr Nor Afizah Mustapha said consumers should be more cautious and assess the condition of retort food packaging before purchasing to avoid health risks.
“At present, Malaysia still does not have specific technical guidelines such as those in the United States, and full enforcement within the retort food sector has yet to be strengthened.
“Consumers are also advised to choose products from manufacturers with quality assurance systems such as MESTI certification, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, as well as Good Manufacturing Practice, to ensure production processes are carried out safely and hygienically,” she said.
Dr Afizah was speaking as a guest on the 'Bicara Semasa' current affairs programme, titled 'Retort Foods: Long-Lasting But Are They Safe?', published by Media Selangor recently.
She added that specific technical guidelines are crucial in helping the industry understand and comply with proper processing standards while also preventing the risk of food contamination.
Every retort product must undergo rigorous validation to ensure that harmful microorganisms, such as Clostridium botulinum, are completely destroyed, preventing food poisoning or botulism.
Infection from the bacteria can attack the nervous system, potentially causing respiratory failure, paralysis, and even death if not properly controlled.
Dr Afizah also suggested that training for auditors from the Health Ministry, as well as small and medium enterprises, should be strengthened, particularly involving process validation and inspection of retort food packaging.
Enforcement measures should also be strengthened through regular inspections and product sampling for laboratory testing to ensure consistent food safety.
