Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) says it suspended 137 food retail licences in 2015 as a result of poor hygiene.
By the end of November the regulatory body had conducted some 136,000 inspections of food retailers and took action on 2700 occasions, with the suspensions being the harshest penalties against errant operators.
The NEA has the power to impose penalties of up to $2000 as well as suspension of licences if it finds food retailers are not meeting prescribed government hygiene standards. It uses a system of demerit points with retailers suspended if they are issued too many points.
Among errant retailers:
- Pappamia restaurant at Changi Airport was suspended for two weeks after multiple breaches, including wet floors, hiring staff without food handling qualifications and cockroaches discovered in the kitchen.
- Ah Yat Abalone was suspended for two weeks after being caught selling undercooked food and staff were discovered handling food with their bare hands.
- Red Star restaurant at Chin Swee Rd was not suspended, but given demerit points after cockroaches were found on site.
- Jumbo Group at Changi Coast Walk was cited, but not suspended, after a high bacterial count was measured on its seafood fried rice.
