Warning letter given to Sengkang stall and butcher seen without mask on properly 'since June'

F&B operator Kopitiam has counselled a butcher who was seen without his mask on properly while working at a stall at Kopitiam Square in Sengkang.

Both the staff member and the stall have also been issued a warning letter, a Kopitiam spokesman told Stomp on Wednesday (Aug 26).

Photos that Stomper T submitted show the butcher with his mask under his chin while handling meat.

The pictures, which T took across "different days", also show the butcher in different shirts.

T told Stomp on August 14: "This butcher from the Kopitiam Square market in Sengkang always does not wear his mask properly. He does not wear gloves too when handling meat.

"Every time I visit the market regardless of at what time, I will see him not wearing his mask properly. His mask is always down when he's talking to people.

"This has been happening for a few months. I have been seeing it since June when the circuit breaker ended."

According to T, other staff at the stall always have their masks on properly.

In response to Stomp queries, a Kopitiam spokesman thanked the Stomper for the feedback and said it has completed investigations.

"The staff has been counselled, and a warning letter has been issued to both the staff and licensee," said the spokesman.

In addition to stepping up on checks, Kopitiam has also sent out another health advisory letter to remind all tenants to strictly adhere to all safe management measures.

The spokesman added: "We apologise to the reader for this unpleasant experience. Please rest assured that we take a serious view on any non-compliance of safe management measures and will take immediate action to rectify the situation."

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) also told Stomp: "Currently, F&B establishments must implement safe management measures and comply with the Covid-10 Temporary Measures)(Control Order) Regulations.

"This includes the mandatory requirement for every individual to wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth at all times when outside of their homes, except when eating and drinking.

"We urge all F&B operators to comply with the requirement, as the wearing of mask is a key measure to reduce the spread of Covid-19 and to protect the health of the individual and those around him.

"SFA inspected the food stall upon receiving feedback that its workers were not wearing their masks properly and no lapses were detected.

"Nevertheless, we have reminded the operator and workers to ensure that workers adhere to safe management measures at all times.

"Under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, food handlers must not handle cooked and ready-to-eat food with bare hands. It is not a requirement for food handlers to wear gloves when handling raw meat."

Members of the public who come across any potentially errant food operator should report the matter to authorities via the OneService app or via SFA's online feedback form.

As part of the enquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details as well as work with other agencies to review the feedback.

"SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant food handlers if sufficient evidence has been obtained," the agency added.

View more photos in the gallery.