SFA and NEA to take enforcement action over rat incident at Tangs Market food court

SINGAPORE: The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have taken action in response to a video circulating online, depicting a rat on a food tray at Tangs Market.

Upon being informed of the incident, officers from SFA and NEA conducted two rounds of joint inspections at Tangs Market

The inspections covered takeaway food shops and common areas, including a thorough examination of ceilings for any signs of pest and rat infestation.

Rat infestation and hygiene lapses at Tangs Market food court

In a statement posted on Facebook on Tuesday (28 Nov), the NEA announced its intention to take enforcement action against the building management of Tangs Market for rat infestation in the ceiling areas.

Simultaneously, the SFA will be initiating enforcement actions against five food establishments found to have hygiene lapses.

In the joint statement, SFA and NEA emphasized that food safety and vector control are collective responsibilities

While regulatory measures are implemented and enforced by government agencies, operators and premise owners are equally accountable for maintaining high standards of hygiene.

“Food safety and vector control is a joint responsibility. While agencies put in place and enforce regulatory measures, operators and premise owners must play their part too,” the two agencies said.

Both agencies pledged to continue monitoring the effectiveness of the measures implemented by all parties involved.

The collaborative efforts aim to not only ensure food safety but also eradicate the rodent issue comprehensively.

“SFA and NEA will continue to monitor the effectiveness of measures taken by the parties involved to safeguard food safety and eradicate the rodent issue,” the statement concluded.

The footage which was posted on the “Singapore Laughs” Facebook page, has quickly gained traction online, raising concerns about hygiene and safety at the dining spot.

In the 55-second video, diners can be seen pointing out the rodent to each other, displaying shock on their faces.

A watermark indicates that the video was sourced from Xiaohongshu, though the original user seems to have deleted it from their page. The clip shows a big rat lying on a tray with seemingly untouched food in the middle of a food court.

While the exact time and date remain unspecified in the post, the footage indicates that customers were initially oblivious to the rodent’s presence.

However, as awareness spread, shock and disgust were palpable among some patrons.

The rodent, initially motionless, began twitching and moving its paws intermittently, prompting speculation about its condition. Whether the rat was injured or simply enjoying an afternoon repose remains unclear.

Despite the unsettling scene, customers carried on with their meals, and others continued to navigate the food court without paying much attention to the unexpected visitor.