Kindergarten students, teachers hit by food poisoning at camp, caterer under investigation

SINGAPORE — In the third major case of food poisoning this month, children and teachers at a learning camp fell ill on Monday (Nov 26) after they consumed food prepared by FoodTalks Caterer and Manufacturer.

A total of 131 people — including kindergarten students and teachers — were hit by gastroenteritis, although none were hospitalised.

The camp, which was organised by Learning Horizon, a subsidiary of global childcare chain Busy Bees, was immediately suspended after the incident.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the Ministry of Health, National Environment Agency (NEA) and Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said that they are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis — inflammation of the stomach and intestines which causes vomiting and diarrhoea — "traced to the consumption of food" prepared by FoodTalks. The caterer is located at Shimei East Kitchen along Bedok North Street 5.

A joint inspection of the caterer's premises in Bedok was conducted on Tuesday. As part of the investigation, food handlers were sent for stool screening. Food and environmental samples were also taken for testing.

Monday’s incident was the third major case of mass food poisoning in recent weeks. Last Friday, 190 people fell ill after eating food prepared by TungLok Catering for the Singapore Civil Defence Force’s public exhibition at the Singapore Expo.

Earlier this month, the NEA announced that it had suspended the licence of popular eatery Spize at River Valley Road after 81 cases of gastroenteritis were traced to bento-box meals prepared by the restaurant for a Deepavali celebration by security firm Brink’s Singapore.

At least 45 people were hospitalised, and an officer from airport services and food solutions provider Sats, 38-year-old Fadli Salleh, died on Nov 14 at the Sengkang General Hospital. The cause of Fadli's death is pending as it has been classified as a coroner’s case, the Ministry of Health said earlier.