On the list of places you’d least want to find a cockroach, an eatery has to be pretty high up, followed by a plate of food and a glass of water.
The sight of a cockroach is repelling enough, but if we hear that cockroaches were involved in the preparation of our food, we’d probably be too disgusted to eat for a while (unless they were making the food).
Yet the authorities have found cockroach infestations in eateries here on occasion. Some people have even found them in their food.
You’d think that food establishments would learn from this, but no.
All Proofer Bakery Outlets Suspended After SFA Finds ‘Massive Pest Infestation’
Yesterday (26 Oct), Proofer Bakery, a local bakery, announced on Facebook that it was closing its stores for the day for cleaning purposes.
One would assume that they were taking the initiative to ensure that their outlets were extra clean to protect customers from any ill-health, but this was not the case.
When the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) inspected the bakery’s premises at 171 Kampong Ampat in the MacPherson area that day, they discovered a massive pest infestation in its food preparation areas and delivery trucks.
There were “live cockroaches, rodent activity, and dead rodents,” the agency said. It also found several lapses related to poor maintenance of the premises.
In its Facebook post, Proofer Boulangerie said it would close only for one day and that business would resume on the following day.
But this seems highly unlikely, as SFA has suspended the bakery’s food business operations until further notice.
The agency also directed the bakery to recall food products from its 16 outlets, rectify the lapses, and implement measures to improve the cleanliness of and food safety practices at its premises.
Mee Pok Place in Joo Chiat Suspended for Cockroach Infestation in June
Just four months ago, Ah Lim Jln. Tua Kong Mee Pok, a mee pok joint in Joo Chiat, was ordered to cease operations for two weeks after its premises was found to be infested with cockroaches.
Under the Points Demerit System, it had racked up 12 demerit points over a 12-month period for “failure to keep licensed premises free of cockroach infestation”.
It had also been fined S$800.
SFA: Food Safety a Joint Responsibility
In its release, the agency said food safety is a joint responsibility, as food can be contaminated “anywhere along the food chain.”
“While SFA continues to be vigilant and works to ensure that regulatory measures are in place and properly enforced, the industry and consumers must also play their part,” it added.
It warned that non-compliant operators could face enforcement action, including a fine of up to $10,000 or a jail term of up to a year, or both.
Those who come across food establishments with poor food safety practices are advised not to visit them. They are encouraged to report such stalls to the authorities here.
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Featured Image: Facebook (Proofer Boulangerie)