SINGAPORE — It did not apply for a food establishment licence in time, but homegrown company Baker’s Brew Studio went ahead to bake tarts intended for sale over the Chinese New Year period at a facility in Admiralty.

An officer from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) noticed the activities during a regular inspection on Jan 11, and found that Baker’s Brew Studio had been operating an unlicensed wholesale flour confectionery establishment at 8A Admiralty Street.

The baking and cake company was fined S$1,000 in court on Wednesday (April 10) for operating the unlicensed food establishment.

“Confectionery items including ‘pineapple bak kwa’ cookies and ‘ondeh ondeh’ cookies were found to be manufactured at the premises for sale at (its) three retail outlets,” said the Singapore Food Agency in a press release.

The AVA is the agency’s predecessor.

Baker’s Brew Studio’s retail outlets are in Orchard, Sembawang and Upper Thomson. 

According to its website, it also conducts baking classes.

The SFA said that all food manufacturing activities at the Admiralty unit were “stopped immediately and food equipment were sealed to prevent further usage”.

“All finished food products, semi-processed food items, as well as raw materials that had been opened were disposed,” it added.

Baker’s Brew Studio was also instructed to retrieve food that had been produced at the unit for disposal.

“Our investigation found that Baker’s Brew Studio had knowingly used the unlicensed premises to produce baked tarts for the (Chinese) New Year, as they did not apply for the licence in time,” said the SFA.

The agency said that it takes a serious view of food establishments that do not follow regulations and food safety requirements.

Offenders may be fined up to S$5,000. In a second or subsequent conviction, they may be fined up to S$10,000 and jailed for up to three months.