Tangs Market to be closed on 30 Nov for cleaning and sanitisation, following 'twitching rat' viral video
It has already done a round of thorough cleaning, and attended to the customers who saw the rat on the tray last Saturday
SINGAPORE — Tangs Market by Fei Siong will be closed on Thursday as further deep cleaning and sanitisation works, after a viral social media video surfaced on Monday (27 November) showing a twitching rat on a food tray at Tangs Market food court.
CK Tang Limited said in a media statement on Wednesday afternoon that thorough cleaning and sanitisation works by cleaning and pest control vendors was done on Tuesday. It is planning a further cleaning and sanitisation session for Wednesday night.
Confirming that a rodent was sighted at on a food tray within Tangs Market last Saturday, CK Tang added that it will close Tangs Market on Thursday for another session of deep cleaning and sanitisation works, in an effort to "exceed hygiene and sanitisation standards".
The company added that affected customers seated in the vicinity were attended to, following Saturday's incident. Anticimex Pest Management, the company's regular pest control vendor, also launched its investigation last Saturday night.
"We take all matters regarding public health and hygiene very seriously and this is a regrettable and unacceptable occurrence," CK Tang said in its media statement. "We, together with Fei Siong and our other F&B operators at Tangs Market, continue to render support and assistance to affected customers."
Two rounds of joint inspection by SFA and NEA
The viral video first circulated on Monday, and showed a rat lying on top of a food tray, on a table at Tangs Market food court. A woman was heard squealing after noticing the rat twitching and squirming. Further screams from surrounding people followed thereafter.
Tangs Market is located in the basement of Tang Plaza and is operated by the Fei Siong Group.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday (28 November), SFA said that two rounds of joint inspection have been conducted with NEA. Officers from both agencies inspected takeaway food shops and common areas, as well as the ceiling, for signs of pest and rat infestation.
NEA will be taking enforcement action against Tang Plaza's building management for rat infestation in the ceiling, while SFA will be taking enforcement action on five food shops found with hygiene lapses. The authority is also aware of the circulating video on social media.
"Food safety and vector control is a joint responsibility. While agencies put in place and enforce regulatory measures, operators and premise owners must play their part too. SFA and NEA will continue to monitor the effectiveness of measures taken by the parties involved to safeguard food safety and eradicate the rodent issue," said SFA.
Ongoing commitment to uphold unwavering standards of hygiene
To uphold its "unwavering standards of hygiene and pest control management", CK Tang said in its media statement that it will undertake the following measures:
Double the frequency of pest control checks and servicing,
Increase the frequency and extent of its cleaning and sanitisation works with partners;
Work closely with the authorities to conduct increased checks within its premises.
"We will continue engaging with the Singapore Food Authority, and our partners to uphold our unwavering standards of hygiene and pest control management," it said.
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