Food processing firm fined $6k for illegal operation of cold store for meat and seafood products

Food processing establishment Shiawase (S) Pte Ltd was fined $6,000 on Wednesday (March 24) for two charges of operating an unlicensed cold store.

During an inspection by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in October 2020, officers found that Shiawase (S) Pte Ltd’s licensed food processing establishment had stored meat and seafood products in an adjacent unit that was not licensed as a cold store.

The products were seized by SFA.

During another inspection in February 2021, SFA officers found that Shiawase (S) Pte Ltd had continued to store additional meat and seafood products in the unlicensed cold store.

A total of about 1,800kg of meat and seafood products -- including chicken, beef, fish and prawns -- were seized from the two detections.

"Illegal storage of meat and seafood at unlicensed facilities pose food safety risks," SFA said in a statement.

"In Singapore, all cold stores for meat and seafood products must be licensed, and are required to meet SFA’s requirements and food safety standards. These licensed premises are also routinely inspected by SFA."

Offenders who store meat and/or fish products illegally may face a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a jail term of up to one year.