Prima Deli chocolate cakes likely cause of food poisoning

dumbdumb! SG

hmm. haha its ok, i only eat nonya cakes and dessert from bengawan solo! Mr. Green

SingaporeMacross SG

One week... I think one week for an audit is quite optimistic....

SMRT Buses SG

Prima factory meets hygiene requirements but food safety review pending

SINGAPORE: Bakery chain PrimaDelis factory at Keppel Road has been found to be thorough in its cleaning and sanitation process.

The AgriFood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) says swabs taken by AVA on Monday turned up negative for salmonella.

The swabs also tested satisfactory for hygiene indicators.

AVA says this means Prima Food, which manages PrimaDeli, has been effective and thorough in cleaning and disinfecting the factory premises.

But Prima Food has yet to show that it meets the standards of an internationally recognised food safety system.

The system, called Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, is used by food processors and manufacturers to ensure their food products are safe for human consumption.

It is a sciencebased and systematic way of identifying the hazards at any stage of food operations.

AVA is now using this system to review Primas food safety.

Only when it is satisfied that Prima has met the standards, in addition to AVAs hygiene requirements, will the factory be allowed to reopen, AVA says.

But no time frame was given as to when this might happen.

The factory was ordered to stay closed since the beginning of this month after 200 people fell ill from eating PrimaDeli food.

Of the eight workers from Prima Food who had tested positive for salmonella, three have been certified free of the bacteria. 938LIVE.

GhostStalker SG

sounds like a sabotage to me. ending their business. Wink

pokkagreentea SG

nevermind, still got breadtalk and fourleaves. Cool

snop_coolz SG

go for bead papa

ha8n SG

well, cleaniness will always determine the factors in bakery and food industries, just yesterday saw this staff at one of the chain bakery ( whom offered 20% after 8.30 ) in north cleaning sweeping the crusts off those top table ( where they put the breads ) while there are still breads on the lower shelves ..

as they said u dont see what u buy , but these bakeries with the exposed breads u also dont know what they are exposed to when they placed periods of time --customers can use hands to get them also ( they shld make like some bakery , had the breads inside those closed lid container rather than exposed, when u want them , just open up and get )..then it will at least eliminated the factors to infection

^tamago^ SG

cases of salmonella seems to be on the increase around the world. Shocked

SMRT Buses SG

Channel NewsAsia - 2 hours 52 minutes ago

Prima Food starts trial production under AVA supervision

SINGAPORE: More than three weeks after Prima Food was ordered to shut down, the factory started its trial production Friday.

The entire process was conducted under the supervision of officers from the AgriFood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to ensure that Prima Food complied with manufacturing and hygiene practices.

The products tested Friday were the Hazelnut Indulgence, Chocolate Truffle, Truffle Divine and fresh cream cakes.

Food samples were also taken at every step of the operation for testing at the AVAs Veterinary Public Health Centre.

Preliminary test results should be released within the next two to three days. If necessary, more tests will be run to confirm the preliminary findings.

The Prima Food factory was ordered to close down earlier this month after a food poisoning outbreak that affected over 200 people, who fell ill after consuming PrimaDeli products.

Checks by the AVA had shown that the food poisoning was caused by the salmonella bacteria, which was detected in cake samples at its factory between 20 November and 1 December. CNA/ac

tinkibell SG

hmmn.. think business would certainly be badly hit after the entire episode..

SMRT Buses SG

Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, December 30

Prima Food gets green light from AVA to resume full production

SINGAPORE : Prima Food has been given the green light to resume full production operations.

This comes after more than three weeks of closure, due to a food poisoning outbreak caused by salmonella bacteria which affected over 200 people.

The AgriFood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) says it has found Prima Foods factory operations to be satisfactory.

AVA has been conducting daily monitoring of trial production operations, and stringent tests on raw, semiprocessed and processed food samples.

But AVA says it will still monitor factory operations to ensure continued compliance with manufacturing and hygiene practices.

The Prima Food factory and PrimaDeli outlets were ordered to close on December 5.

Checks by AVA showed that the food poisoning was caused by the salmonella bacteria, which was detected in cake samples at its factory between November 20 and December 1.

In the runup to full production operations, Prima Food has complied with all food safety requirements. CNA/ch

SMRT Buses SG

By Diana Othman

PrimaDeli to reopen on New Year's Day

THE production line at Prima Deli is chugging along rapidly on Monday as they try to stock up all their 39 outlets for their reopening on Tuesday.

'We will start by producing the full range of buns and pastries and 20 per cent of the cakes,' said Ms Pansy Wong, deputy general manager of Prima Food.

Only 20 per cent of the cream cakes will be produced for the moment as the company is still getting used to the new, more stringent hygiene measures it has adopted.

Production numbers will be stepped up once PrimaDeli settles into the new routine, she said.

The homegrown bakery is resuming production after getting the all-clear from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) over the weekend.

This comes almost a month after the factory was closed on Dec 5 after PrimaDeli cakes - which were popular among buyers here - were fingered in Singapore's largest salmonella-poisoning scare in recent memory.

Between late November and early December, 204 people fell ill with food poisoning after eating PrimaDeli cakes. Some 15 people were hospitalised, among them was a 11 month-old toddler who was fed some of the cake during a family birthday bash.

Investigations conducted by the AVA pinpointed salmonella-contaminated ingredients - such as hazelnut paste and chocolate cream - as the culprits of the outbreak.

Through its checks, the Health Ministry also found that 14 food handlers from the factory and outlets tested positive for the bacteria.

Since then, the factory has undergone extensive and intensive cleaning and disinfection. AVA officers have also been keeping an eagle eye on the outfit- collecting some 75 swab samples for microbiological testing.

PrimaDeli is also trying to take greater precautions to prevent a recurrence. Besides sending samples from their ingredients for more extensive and frequent testing, it is rehauling the way it tracks its cakes.

From the batches of ingredients used, right up to where the cake was delivered to and sold, all this will be captured in the new system.

Its staff also have to go for regular salmonella tests.

Now, workers also have to record their sick days on a new log card system - so that the company can see at a glance who's been sick and who should go for check ups.

Prima food handlers from the factory and retail stores have also gone for a refresher course on food and personal hygiene training.

Read the full report in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.

SMRT Buses SG

Channel NewsAsia - Monday, December 31

PrimaDeli outlets to open on 1 January

SINGAPORE: PrimaDeli said it can resume full operations of its factory on Monday, 31 December, and its franchised outlets can start retailing on the first day of 2008.

In a media statement, the company said the goahead was given after the AgriFood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) was satisfied with the steps taken to resume operations.

These include passing the AVAs screening of the cleaning and disinfection of its factory.

The company said all retail outlets have also undergone thorough cleaning and disinfection.

It added that it has disposed old ingredient stocks and the Health Ministry (MOH) has also screened all food handlers from its factory and retail outlets.

Those who have passed MOH requirements are allowed to return to work.

All food handlers have also been retrained on food and personal hygiene on 19 December.

In addition, PrimaDeli has strengthened its food safety system with an improved quality control programme, more health checks for staff and a deployment of independent food safety officers.

The Prima Food factory was ordered to shut down on 5 December after cases of food poisoning, involving more than 200 people, were reported. CNA/so

CannyOng SG

If got 50% discount,I sure go buy.. Very Happy

wheelcamp SG

Who will be the first one to try?

LOTUSfairy SG

i would go buy their product again....

everybody should be deserve a 2nd chance..
it happened to anyone anyplace anywhere...
forgive and forget... Razz

wishing Prima Deli a brand new start.... Mr. Green

SMRT Buses SG

Channel NewsAsia - 26 minutes ago

PrimaDeli resumes full retail operations

SINGAPORE : PrimaDeli is back in business as operations resume full swing.

Its outlets reopened on Tuesday after closing for almost a month, and response from the public after the food poisoning outbreak has been much better than expected.

A PrimaDeli outlet at Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 reopened for business after closing its shutters for over three weeks.

Freshly baked bread were hot on its shelves by 7am. Cakes manufactured by the Prima Food Factory also arrived in the morning.

Customers seem confident that PrimaDeli has taken the necessary steps ordered by AgriFood and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to resume operations.

"I have a business in Ang Mo Kio Hub. So everyday, Ill come here to see if this PrimaDeli shop is open. We buy the popular cakes so there shouldnt be a problem," said a member of the public.

PrimaDeli franchisee Jordan Cheang only ordered half of what he usually orders, in case demand is low.

But opening day sales have surprised him.

Before the food poisoning incident last month which affected more than 200 people, his outlet would sell 10 cakes. By Tuesday afternoon, five were already sold.

This gives Cheang the confidence that sales will be brisk during the upcoming Chinese New Year in February.

"We do not see any problems. We feel that customers will be confident (in us). If AVA allows PrimaDeli to start operation again, then things will get back to normal pretty soon," said Cheang.

Cheang added that the shutdown had cost his three outlets some S$200,000 in sales.

Prima Food said its still continuing discussions on how to compensate its franchisees. CNA /ls

SMRT Buses SG

Channel NewsAsia - 32 minutes ago

Prima Foods expects compensation bill to run into millions of dollars

SINGAPORE : Prima Foods has started compensating people affected by the food poisoning incident caused by the companys cakes.

Both those who fell sick and franchisees who had to close their outlets for 26 days have started to receive money.

Prima Foods expects its compensation bill to run into millions.

At one PrimaDeli outlet in Ang Mo Kio, regulars just cannot stay away from their favourite cakes after it was allowed to reopen for business.

"My son likes to eat chocolate flavoured cake," said one customer.

"I like to eat the waffles...the waffles are nice," said another.

"The first day open, I have to buy very often, I love the cakes here."

It is loyal customers like these who have helped sales at the shop return to about 85 per cent of what they were before the food poisoning incident.

More than 200 people fell sick after eating cake contaminated with salmonella.

The authorities ordered the closure of all Prima Deli outlets during investigations.

Jordan Cheang, a PrimaDeli franchisee, lost about $200,000 in sales.

But hes satisfied with the compensation package from Prima Foods, which is based on lost earnings.

He said: "Prima management assured us they will reimburse us according to our losses, so we are still working out the minor details based on their assurance to all the franchisees. We are quite pleased with the arrangement."

Pansy Wong, Deputy General Manager, PrimaDeli Division, said: "We have given them seven days worth of compensation in terms of closure...The rest of the compensation as I mentioned earlier we are still negotiating."

Prima Foods has already paid out compensation to 13 people who fell sick with payouts ranging from a few dollars for the cost of a cake to a few thousand dollars for hospital bills.

And it still has another 90 individual claims to process.

In all, it expects its compensation bill to reach millions of dollars for franchisees and individuals. CNA/ch

QX179R SG

Channel NewsAsia - Saturday, March 8

SINGAPORE : Prima Food, which owns Prima Deli, was fined $5,000 on Friday for selling contaminated food.

A company representative, Kenneth Chew, pleaded guilty to having hazelnut paste which contained the salmonella bacteria.

The Agri—Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) had found the bacteria at Prima Food’s factory at Keppel Road last year.

The court heard that AVA had inspected the factory, collected samples from the ingredients used to make the cakes and sent them for laboratory analysis.

The hazelnut paste was used to make its chocolate cakes sold in Prima Deli’s 38 outlets.

Over 200 people suffered from food poisoning after eating the contaminated cakes.

The food poisoning outbreak is believed to be Singapore’s largest in recent years.

The Health Ministry’s investigations showed that 14 factory food handlers and some of the outlets tested positive for the salmonella bug. — CNA/ch

QX179R SG

"We found a metal nut in Prima Deli cake!"

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=17156

Prima Deli: Investigation needed to examine case of metal nut in cake

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/singaporeseen/viewContent.jsp?id=17181

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