Malaysia to conduct random checks on pre-mixed durian coffee after 2 more fall ill
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Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the premix coffee that caused at least five people to become ill after consuming it will not be taken off the shelves as there is no evidence to suggest contamination at the main production line.
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Published Feb 05, 2018, 07:41 AM
Updated Feb 05, 2018, 08:25 PM
KUALA LUMPUR (BERNAMA, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's health ministry will conduct checks on samples of pre-mixed coffee taken off the shelves, health minister S. Subramaniam told reporters on Monday (Feb 5) after more consumers fell ill with extreme fatigue, weakness and dizziness.
The ministry had checked the pre-mixed coffee factory and could not find evidence related to the cases, Datuk Seri Subramaniam told reporters after launching the "World Cancer Week 2018" programme.
In the latest case, two garbage truck drivers were hospitalised in Penang for dizziness and bouts of vomiting after drinking the coffee.
"Now, we will also check specimens taken off the rack to determine whether there is anything that had contributed (to the condition)," Dr Subramaniam said.
"If there is any criminal element, then it has to be dealt with in a different way."
The truck drivers were hospitalised after consuming packets of instant white coffee given by their colleague - a Bangladeshi garbage collector who found the stuff in a dustbin.
Police investigations showed that Mat Dat, 60, started vomiting and experiencing dizziness 10 minutes after consuming the beverage at 2.30pm on Saturday (Feb 3).
His colleague Md Ruslan Hussain, 59, also complained of blurred vision and dizziness before passing out. Their housemates then sent them to Penang Hospital.
George Town OCPD Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar said Mat Dat received the beverage from the Bangladeshi worker on Thursday. He said the worker, who found two packets of premix coffee in a dustbin, kept one for himself and gave the other to Mat Dat.
"We have contacted the supervisor of the garbage collecting company in Relau to look for the worker. "We want him to hand us the packets for investigation," he said.
In earlier cases, five persons, including two women aged between 19 and 62, became ill between Jan 27 and 30 after consuming durian coffee sachets, which were believed to have been tampered with.
Like the two latest victims, they had consumed the same brand of instant coffee powder.
Initial police probe revealed that the sachets were opened and resealed, with 10g of a green substance added inside.
Dr Subramaniam said on Monday he had asked the Ministry's Food Safety and Quality division to conduct random sampling of the coffee, adding that the result of the Ministry's investigation would be known after a week.
A day earlier he had said a psychoactive substance was suspected.
"We want the police to investigate how this substance could have gone into the premix coffee," he told reporters after launching the Integrated Holistic Therapy Centre at the Derma Sivasanta Clinic in River Road on Sunday.
"There seems to be a pattern where those who turn ill received the coffee from strangers."
Dr Subramaniam said a syndicate could be behind the incident. He added the coffee would not be taken off the shelves as there was no evidence to suggest the main product line was contaminated.
"Apart from these few packets, there is no evidence right now to pin the blame on its producers.
Dr. Subramaniam said ministry officials had paid the factory a visit and tested their products.
"We did not find narcotic elements and do not have any evidence to incriminate the manufacturer," he said.
