Burger & Lobster fined $3k for food safety lapses after 132 diners suffer gastroenteritis
Farah Daley
Posted on 12 April 2024 | 9,429 views | 18 comments
Burger & Lobster Singapore was fined $3,000 for multiple food safety lapses, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement.
In May 2022, SFA received reports of gastroenteritis involving 132 people who had consumed food at Burger & Lobster's Jewel Changi Airport outlet between May 7 and 15, 2022. Five of them were hospitalised.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA conducted a joint investigation at the licensee's premises and found multiple food safety lapses, including poor housekeeping, cracked kitchen floor tiles, using a dirty oven toaster, and failure to employ a food hygiene officer for the premises.
Their food business operations were suspended from May 16 to July 5, 2022 in the interests of public health.
SFA also directed the licensee to rectify the lapses and take necessary measures to improve food safety practices and the cleanliness of its premises.
SFA reminds all food operators to ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, and staff are adequately trained on proper food safety management.
Those found to have violated the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations may be fined up to $2,000. In the case of a continuing offence, they can be further fined up to $100 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.
In a separate incident, GH Enterprise and its director were fined $7,000 and $5,000 respectively for illegally importing fresh vegetables for sale and failing to prevent the offence from being committed.
Seized consignments of illegal imported vegetables from GH Enterprise Pte Ltd. PHOTO: SFA
Processing and packing activities conducted illegally at Yan Zai Seasoning Pte Ltd. PHOTO: SFA
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