NEA and AVA to step up checks on food establishments this festive season
The National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) will be stepping up checks on food establishments during the festive season as they issued a joint statement to advise operators and consumers to practise good food and personal hygiene.
The agencies also gave an update on recent enforcement actions that they had taken against errant operators.
“Safe preparation and handling of food will help minimise the risk of food poisoning incidents,” the statement said.
The advisory comes after three cases of mass food poisoning with more than 400 people falling ill with symptoms of gastroenteritis were reported last month.
On 26 November, 131 people – including kindergarten pupils and teachers – fell ill on after consuming food from a caterer while attending a learning camp.
On 23 November, 190 people fell ill after eating food prepared by TungLok Catering for the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s public exhibition Lifesavers’ Connect at the Max Atria@Singapore Expo. None of the 190 affected were hospitalised.
In the most serious case on 9 November, 81 cases of gastroenteritis were traced to bento-box meals prepared by Spize Restaurant for an event including a 38-year-old man who died after suffering from the illness. At least 45 people were hospitalised. NEA suspended the licence of the Asian fusion restaurant.
NEA and AVA said they will be working with the industry to uphold food hygiene standards.
Among the measures, NEA and AVA will be issuing their regular year-end advisories to food operators on good hygiene practices during food preparation and handling.
NEA is also engaging representatives from the Association of Catering Professionals Singapore (ACAPS), the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) and other major food service operators about the importance of food hygiene and safety.
For their inspections during the festive season, NEA and AVA will focus on the licensees that provide catering services and other premises with substantial catering operations.
The two agencies also gave an update on their enforcement actions this year as at end-November.
NEA has conducted more than 73,000 inspections on food retail establishments, taken more than 2,600 enforcement actions against food retail operators over violations of hygiene regulations, and suspended 84 licences over the period. AVA has conducted more than 9,000 inspections on food makers, taken close to 500 enforcement actions against errant licensees, and suspended 13 licences.
NEA and AVA will continue to review the overall framework, including the current penalty regime, to ensure that food establishments take greater responsibility for the hygiene standards of their premises.
Consumers also have a role to play in ensuring food safety and hygiene, the statement said. They should take steps such as selecting food carefully, separating raw and cooked food, observing good personal hygiene practices.
Related stories
131 fall ill in third mass food-poisoning case this month
Man dies after gastroenteritis outbreak at Spize Restaurant at River Valley
NEA suspends licence of Tung Lok Catering at Singapore Expo after reports of illnesses
