The Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M) management has instructed suppliers of its 1Malaysia products to send their products for periodic laboratory tests.
KR1M said the tests for all 250 1Malaysia products would cost up to RM300,000 and borne by the suppliers and manufacturers.
“These will not be funded by the Government or NGOs (non-governmental organisations), nor by the KR1M manqgement.
“It will be entirely borne by the manufacturers and suppliers of 1Malaysia products, the majority of whom are the rakyat themselves,” it said in a statement issued yesterday.
KR1M said labelling and composition of the products are two issues which could happen to any of the products, especially for new products entering the market, which must be corrected and improved, and not classified as “unsafe” or even harmful if consumed.
On Saturday, the health ministry announced that 13 1Malaysia products did not comply with the Food Regulations 1985, and that it had taken action.
The products involved are fresh milk, condensed milk, sweetened condensed creamer, oyster sauce, fruit jam, canned chicken curry, mango cordial, ghee compounds, peanuts, creamy peanut butter, Crunchy peanut butter, crispy peanut butter and fish tinned sardines in tomato sauce (155 grams).
KR1M said most of the non-compliance was in terms of product composition and labelling, and not from the aspect of food safety.
Such products were identified and the suppliers, advised to correct the error, to re-enter the market after being reviewed by the ministry, it added.
KR1M also explained that product recalls could happen anywhere in the world, including at established organisations with ISO certification.
– Bernama