Caterer fined $2,100 after 37 fell ill, 1 hospitalised following lunch at 4 eldercare centres
A caterer was fined $2,100 on July 31 following cases of gastroenteritis at eldercare centres.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on May 18, 2023, received reports of gastroenteritis incidents affecting 37 people in four St Luke's ElderCare Centres.
Those affected had consumed catered lunch meals supplied by +Robert Catering Services.
One was hospitalised and had since been discharged.
The next day, MOH and SFA conducted a joint investigation of the caterer's premises at 5 Kaki Bukit Road 2.
A total of 12 food samples were collected, of which three were found to have a bacillus cereus count that had exceeded the limit stipulated in the regulations.
Bacillus cereus is a harmful food-borne bacteria that can causes diarrhoea or vomiting.
The three ready-to-eat food items were:
- stir-fry cabbage with mushroom, carrot and baby corn
- stir-fry cabbage
- braised tau pok.
Another company was fined $3,800 on Aug 2 for carrying out unapproved trade activities involving pet food on its SFA-licensed premises.
The company, called Sidecar, was licensed to operate a food processing establishment at the premises, but during an inspection on Feb 15, 2023, SFA officers found that it had contravened SFA's licensing conditions with the unauthorised processing and packing of pet food at its premises.
SFA found pet food products in the walk-in freezer room, as well as pet food packaging materials such as tubs, lids and glass jar in the dry storage area and office in the premises.
