By Amresh Gunasingham
FOOD caterers are going to have to display clear labels on meal
packets or at buffet tables that tell people the food must be eaten
by a specified time or it will go bad.
The new rule will be introduced some time towards the end of
this year, Minister of State for the Environment Amy Khor said on
Friday when she announced the move to give added protection against
people getting food poisoning.
Her ministry is targetting these caterers because they typically
serve food to a large number of people at any one time and any
'lapses...could potentially result in mass food poisoning,' she
added.
She also said that studies have shown that food in
air-conditionedplaces can be safely consumed up to four hours after
it had been cooked.
Dr Khor announced the new rule in Parliament when replying to Mr
Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC), who had asked for more
severe penalties to be imposed on recaltriant food caterers.
Dr Khor stressed that the new labelling measure is part of her
ministry's overall effort to ensure the safety of cooked food, and
any punishment will be in accordance with existing regulations
regarding food poisoning.
