Suspended restaurant in hot water as two rats caught

SINGAPORE — Two rats have been caught at Hotpot Culture, a restaurant at Marina Square that was ordered by the National Environment Agency (NEA) to suspend operations and take pest control measures after a diner found a rat carcass in one of its dishes last Friday (Jan 9).

The NEA said it conducted investigations and found some dried rat droppings on the floor of the restaurant’s storeroom and a false ceiling in its kitchen.

Gaps were found in the wall of the storeroom near the ceiling and in the kitchen’s false ceiling, which the agency said could have been used by rats to access the kitchen.

The NEA has ordered the restaurant to seal up such potential entry points and ensure that proper housekeeping, food storage and waste management practices are being followed. The agency said it will take enforcement action against Hotpot Culture and continue to monitor the pest control treatment and hygiene practices at its premises.

The restaurant’s business operations will remain suspended while the NEA investigates the matter.

Under the Environment Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, licensees that sell unclean food can be fined up to S$2,000 and issued six demerit points.

The agency emphasised that operators of food establishments have a duty to ensure their premises are clean and free from pests by putting in place a good cleaning regime and an effective pest control programme.

Members of the public are advised to report errant operators by calling the NEA’s 24-hour Contact Centre at 1800-CALL-NEA (1800 2255 632).