GEORGE TOWN: Disgusting. That was the general sentiment of the public, especially netizens, when they learned about the dirty processes and tools used by a bakery in Penang to make Roti Benggali.

This was after the Penang Health Department found rat droppings, human hair, houseflies at the bakery in Jalan Dato Keramat on Monday.

Infuriated netizens, who regard the bread as one of Malaysia’a favourite staple, lashed out at the bakery operator for betraying their trust.

An NST online reader, Rogayah Yusof Khan, called for the bakery’s licence to be revoked.

“Should cancel their licence! Stop them from operating. Rat droppings, they must be out of their mind!” she said.

Huzaimah Ahmad felt that the bakery should be shut down and not allowed to operate until every inch of the bakery has been certified clean.

“The bakery should be closed for a long time so that proper cleaning can be done. This place can be a source of the deadly leptospirosis disease,” he said.

In jest, some NST online readers felt the unsavoury conditions were the reasons behind the bread’s great taste.

“Now we know what makes the bread tasty. Added with natural flavour,” quipped a Facebook user, known only as Wan Khaidir.

“No wonder Roti Benggali tastes so nice especially when it is toasted with half boiled eggs,” said Tony Mettananda.

Davis Tan was sympathetic and pleaded for all to give the bakery a chance to change.

“This shop is Malaysia and Penang’s heritage, oldest bakery shop. Give them a chance to improve,” he said on NST Online’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/nstonline).

On Monday, the popular bakery was ordered to close for two weeks after officers found rat droppings in its premises during a spot check.

Strands of human hair were found in oil used to knead dough.

The bakery was booked for not keeping its premises clean before.

Yesterday, the errant bakery appeared to be open, with business as usual, despite being ordered to close for two weeks.

Hordes of bread sellers on motorcycles were seen loading stocks of breads and pastries from the shop.

In response to this, state Health Department deputy director (Food Security and Quality Division) Ku Nafishah Ku Ariffin said only the processing side of the bakery was ordered to close.

“Only the processing area was ordered to close after our spot check but the sales area was not affected.

“If the entire bakery was to be closed, we will need to sample all products it makes,” he said.

Roti Benggali is believed to be derived from the word ‘Penggali’, which meant shareholders in Tamil.

The local favourite is freshly baked daily by a few bakeries in town and sold by ‘breadmen’ on two wheels.

It is widely available in many restaurants and roadside coffee shops.

-NST