SINGAPORE (STOMP) - The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is taking enforcement action against a mookata restaurant at Golden Mile Complex after a customer spotted cockroaches crawling all over a drink dispenser machine.
An eyewitness told citizen journalism website Stomp that she visited Y Cube Mookata Buffet for dinner on July 3 and was horrified with what she saw.
"I noticed the drinks dispenser was crawling with tiny and large cockroaches," she said.
"I tried to inform the manager about it but he said that the machine was not operated for a long time during the circuit breaker.
"So he means they didn't bother to clean or wipe the sticky stuff off of the machine during the whole circuit breaker?
"What kind of hygiene practice is this?"
The eyewitness said the manager was about to walk away because the restaurant was busy, but she asked him if he expected her to kill the cockroaches for him.
"A staff member took a piece of tissue and killed a cockroach without disinfecting the area afterwards.
"I wanted to brush it off and continue with dinner but there were more cockroaches crawling out and I called for the manager again. He asked if I wanted to move the table away from the drinks dispenser.
"I would have really appreciated it if he had changed my seats or removed the entire machine but he continued to ignore me afterwards.
"I really hope the restaurant owner does something about this."
In response to a Stomp query, the SFA said it had carried out an inspection after receiving feedback.
An SFA spokesman told Stomp: "Under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, operators of SFA-licensed premises are to ensure that the premises is free of infestation by rodents, cockroaches or other vermin.
"SFA conducts regular inspections of SFA-licensed food establishments to ensure compliance with our regulations, and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if necessary.
"SFA inspected the food establishment upon receiving feedback.
"We are taking enforcement action against the operator for the hygiene lapses detected.
"We have also directed the operator to activate their pest control operator and to rectify the lapses detected.
"Food safety is a joint responsibility.
"While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices."
Members of the public who come across any potentially errant food operator are advised to report it to SFA via the online feedback form.
As part of the inquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details.
"SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant food operators if we have obtained sufficient evidence," the agency said.
It has previously issued fines to food businesses for failing to keep their premises clean.
