PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry has found no evidence that cooking oil repackers are using recycled cooking oil in the polybag packaging.

Health director general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry inspected 214 cooking oil repacker premises since last year.

“There is no proof that these premises processed or repacked recycled cooking oil.

“The ministry also inspected 33,352 food outlets, and our investigations showed that all premises did not use recycled cooking oil.

“We have run an analysis on 115 cooking oil samples from 88 brands, and found that there is no mixture of recycled cooking oil in the packets,” he said in a statement.

Noor Hisham said the inspection was to ensure that subsidised cooking oil being sold to consumers is of the new, unused palm oil variety.

He said the ministry will continuously monitor the cooking oil supply in the market.

“The ministry would also like to stress that the importation, manufacture and sale of recycled cooking oil is prohibited under the Food Act 1983.

“Under the act, offenders can be slapped with a fine of not more than RM100,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years, or both, upon conviction.” he said.

Those with information on business premises which use recycled cooking oil can contact the nearest Health Department or the District Health Office, or through http://moh.spab.gov.my and www.facebook.com/bkkmhq. -nst