An Indian restaurant in Ang Mo Kio was ordered to close for two weeks and fined $800 for failing to register its assistants and selling food not prepared in a licensed premises.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has ordered the Indian restaurant Spices & Curries downstairs in Block 713, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, to be closed from this Wednesday (14th) until the 27th of this month.
The restaurant was deducted 12 points for violating the above two regulations; license holders who have deducted at least 12 points within 12 months can be ordered to close for two or four weeks, or even face the consequences of having their license revoked.
All food handlers working at Spices & Curries must return to class and pass food safety level 1 before returning to work.
If the restaurant has any food hygiene personnel, the licensee must also ensure that they repeat the Food Safety Course Level 3 and pass it.
One week ago, SFA suspended the license of Mr. Prata, the Food Shop at 742 Bedok Reservoir Road under the Points Demerit System. The period of suspension is two weeks from 07/12/2022 to 20/12/2022.
The licensee has accumulated 12 demerit points within a 12-month period and was fined a total of $800 for the following offences of preparing food in places where toxic matter is placed or deposited or permitted to be placed or deposited whereby such food is likely to be contaminated. It also accumulated demerit points for sale of food which is not clean or which contains any matter foreign to the nature of such food.
SFA said that based on track records, a licensee who accumulates 12 or more demerit points within a 12-month period may have his license suspended for a period of either two or four weeks, or cancelled. All food handlers working in the suspended premises would also be required to re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1, before they can resume work as food handlers. The licensee is also required to ensure that all food hygiene officers working in the suspended premises, if any, re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 3.
SFA said that it takes a serious view of these offences and would like to remind food operators to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers. SFA added that it will not hesitate to take firm action against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act.
In the interest of maintaining a high standard of food hygiene at all eating establishments, SFA advised members of the public who come across poor hygiene practices in food establishments not to patronise such outlets and provide feedback.