iTODAY: Canteen operator at Singapore Sports School suspended

From iTODAY:Canteen operator at Singapore Sports School suspended

Tan Qiuyi | Nov 12, 2010 6:00

SINGAPORE - The Singapore Sports School's canteen operator has been suspended while investigations continue into last week's food poisoning incident that affected 106 students. ISS Catering Services, may also have its licence revoked.

This is not the first time the operator has been in trouble.

This is the third incident of food poisoning in two years at the Singapore Sports School.

In January 2009, 94 people fell ill after having breakfast. ISS Catering Services was let off with a warning then.

Food handlers were cleared of food-borne bacteria and no hygiene lapses were found. There were no food samples available for tests.

Two months later, 77 people fell ill. Ten tested positive for the Salmonella C bacteria, including three food handlers who were later suspended.

ISS Catering Services has also been fined a total of $500, in March last year for its dirty freezers and in April this year for unsanitary premises and poor waste management.

It was also given six demerit points.

Responding to MediaCorp, Sports School principal Deborah Tan said the school alerted the authorities once it learnt of the latest outbreak.

The kitchen was ordered to be closed immediately and was reopened only after the National Environment Agency (NEA) gave the clearance.

As a further precaution, the school requested for individually-packed meals to be sent from the caterer's central kitchen until Monday, when the school closed for the holidays.

NEA said that while food poisoning cases at food outlets have dropped from 21 to 15 since 2009, those involving caterers have gone up, to 10 cases so far this year.

It advised that it is best not to over-order food when catering.

Ms Wong Chiu Ying, NEA head of operations (hygiene), said that the practice among guests of packing leftover food to take home poses a higher risk of food poisoning. This is because any bacteria present on food that is left for too long can multiply.

Since April, tougher penalties for offenders have kicked in.

Food caterers and food establishments now face a composition fine of $300 for major offences that include the improper storage of food and failing to keep the kitchen clean.

Serious offences such as serving dirty food and preparing food in the toilet now warrant a composition fine of $400.

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