Fried chicken chain KFC recently made the headlines after one of its outlets in Punggol had its licence suspended for selling food that contained foreign matter.
What Caused The Suspension Of The KFC Outlet At Oasis Terraces in Punggol?
The KFC outlet at Oasis Terraces in Punggol has had its licence suspended for 2 weeks from 6 April 2021 to 19 April 2021 for “Sale of food that is unclean or contained foreign matter”. According to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), the outlet has accumulated 12 demerit points over a period of 12 months and was also issued a fine of $800 on top of having its licence suspended. All food handlers at the outlet are also required to re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1.
Prior to its suspension, the same KFC outlet made its rounds in the news in November last year. A customer had found a screw in her porridge which she had ordered from the outlet via food delivery service foodpanda. Further investigations revealed that the incident was a result of the Assistant Manager’s negligence to report a faulty pot lid.
What Do F&B Establishments Need To Know About The Food Shop Licence?
All food establishments such as restaurants and cafes in Singapore must obtain the Food Shop Licence in order to run their operations. Before applying for the licence, applicants will have to ensure that they fulfil SFA’s licensing conditions which include documentary, food shop design, and hygiene requirements.
Pre-licensing conditions include cleanliness and food safety requirements such as developing and implementing a detailed cleaning schedule for premises and food catering vehicles (if any); and ensuring that the establishment is suitable for the preparation, storage and sale of food; among others. For instance, premises should be painted and thoroughly cleansed; there should be adequate number of pedal and wheeled refuse bins; and temperature gauges shall be installed for all refrigerators/chillers.
Under the Food Shop Licence, food handlers (those who are directly involved in the preparation and handling of food) working in food retail establishments must be registered with SFA. They are also required to complete the Food Safety Course Level 1. Do note that food handlers will need to take their 1st refresher course by the 5th year from the date of passing the Food Safety Course Level 1. The 2nd and subsequent refresher courses must be taken every 10th year from the date of passing the last refresher course.
With effect from 13 April 2020, in line with COVID-19 restrictions, all personnel engaged in the sale and preparation for sale of food and drinks must wear masks or other forms of physical barrier. Those who fail to comply with the requirement can face a fine of up to $5,000, have their licences suspended or cancelled, or both.
The Food Shop Licence costs $195 and is valid for 1 year.
Read Also: Complete Guide To F&B Licenses In Singapore – And How Much They Cost
What Do F&B Establishments Need To Know About SFA’s Food Hygiene Practices and Guidelines?
To assist licensees in upkeeping their hygiene standards, SFA has curated a list of educational materials and guidelines. Food establishments are required to implement these guidelines to ensure that the food served to the public is safe for consumption.
#1 Maintain Personal Hygiene While Handling Food
All food handlers are required to observe high standards of personal hygiene. Hand washing, for instance, might seem like a minor task but if not done properly, bacteria from the hands of the food handler might be transferred to the food which might lead to a case of food poisoning. Food handlers may refer to SFA’s video to learn the proper handwashing techniques.
Operators of food retail establishments should also ensure that all service staff are free from any symptoms of illnesses (eg, sneezing or coughing).
#2 Adopt The Correct Food Handling Methods
Food handlers should ensure that they adopt the proper usage of kitchen equipment. For instance, they should note to separate cutting boards and knives for raw and cooked food.
When it comes to the storage of food, do note that the temperature and duration of storage differs according to the type of food. Frozen food should be thawed in the refrigerator or in a microwave oven.
Owners of food establishments should also ensure that the temperature of chillers is kept between 0°C and 4°C and the temperature of freezers at below -12°C.
#3 Ensure The Cleanliness Of Your Food Premises
Food premises should be kept clean and pest-free. To prevent a pest infestation, store operators can take measures such as storing food in properly sealed containers and ensuring that the bins are covered when not in use and emptied at least once a day.
What Happens If A Licensee Breaches The Environmental Public Health Act?
The Environmental Public Health Act, which took effect in 1969, aims to “improve Singapore’s public-health laws by standardising the code governing public-health-related matters such as hygiene standards of eating places, markets and public places as well as the provision of public cleaning services”.
Under part IV (Food Establishments, Markets and Hawkers) of the Act, all food establishments and itinerant hawkers can only operate after obtaining a licence from the Director-General, Food Administration. The Act also states that “every licensee of a stall shall keep his stall and the immediate vicinity thereof in a clean and sanitary condition”.
The Points Demerit System (PDS) comes into play when a licensee is found to have infringed food hygiene standards. Under the PDS, depending on the nature of offence, demerit points are allotted for each public health offence according to the following categories – Minor offences (0 demerit point); Major offences (4 demerit points); Serious offences (6 demerit points). Licensees may find the full list of offences and their corresponding demerit points on SFA’s website.
Under the Food Hygiene Regulations in the Environmental Public Health Act, a licensee who accumulates 12 demerit points or more within 12 months, will have his licence suspended for two weeks or four weeks, or cancelled, depending on his past record of suspension.
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