KUALA LUMPUR: Celebrity chef and cookery show host Anis Nabilah Umaruddin, 37, is deeply saddened by the deaths of a teenager and a toddler from suspected food poisoning after eating canteen food recently.
She said that schools should educate students and canteen operators about the importance of food hygiene, especially the handling of perishable foods such as eggs.
"Eggs cannot be washed and subsequently stored in the refrigerator or container. They begin to perish once touched.
"Furthermore, eggs must be fully cooked and it is not advisable to consume them partially raw," said Anis at the opening of the new Illy Caffe outlet at the Hartamas Shopping Centre, Sri Hartamas here yesterday.
"Food poisoning should always be taken seriously, by consumers as well as eatery staff.
"Eggs are easily contaminated and contribute a lot to poisoning cases because even though they have shells, the shells are porous and harmful substances can seep through them," said Anis.
It was reported on Monday that a 17-year-old boy died as a result of consuming fried eggs in Sungai Cincin, Gombak, Selangor.
He suffered from a severe stomach ache after eating three fried eggs bought by his mother at an event held in a nearby religious school.
A day later, a 2-year-old girl died of food poisoning after eating food prepared at a school canteen in Gombak.
The toddler ate food brought back by her father, who works as a security guard at the school.
She was pronounced dead while receiving treatment at Selayang Hospital.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek urged all schools nationwide to ensure food safety procedures are adhered to.
Anis has been a celebrity chef since 2006 and is the elder sister of actress Aisya Hasnaa Umaruddin.
The Food Institute of Malaysia (FIM) graduate is best known for hosting cookery show Icip-Icip on TV3 and appearing with her siblings in Dream Sisters on TV9.
She was the only Malaysian chef in TLC Asia's My Taste Of Hong Kong and AFC's Eating Wild.
In 2016 she hosted Eat Clean With Anis on Astro Bella.