9-11-2023 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is currently investigating a distressing incident involving a squashed rat that was discovered within a food delivery bag. This unsettling discovery has left a local resident, Madam Farahliza, aged 37, traumatized and deeply concerned about food safety in the city-state.
According to Madam Farahliza, her husband used her GrabFood account last Wednesday to order brownies from Annabella Patisserie, a Japanese-French inspired bakery well-known for its delectable offerings. This order was meant to be part of her belated birthday celebration, and it wasn’t the first time she had ordered food from this establishment, as she told The Straits Times.
The delivery was dispatched from Annabella Patisserie’s outlet located at 28 Gambas Crescent, as indicated by the GrabFood receipt. When the sealed bag containing the order arrived at Madam Farahliza’s residence, a pungent odour emanated from the bag as soon as she opened her front door. Her husband, even from their bedroom, could detect the unsettling smell.
Curiosity led her to examine the contents of the bag, which revealed a disturbing surprise. She recounted, “It was dark, so I carried it to my dining area where it was lighted to have a clearer look inside. To my horror, there was a dead, squashed rat inside the bag.”
The gruesome discovery was so unsettling that Madam Farahliza found herself vomiting in response, and the experience has left her “traumatised” by both the sight and the smell of the rat. After taking photos and videos for evidence, she and her husband promptly disposed of the bag. They have also reported the incident to both the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and GrabFood.
SFA, upon being contacted by The Straits Times, confirmed that they are actively investigating the matter. The agency issued a statement underscoring that food safety is a shared responsibility. While SFA enforces regulatory measures, food operators must adhere to impeccable food hygiene and preparation practices. SFA expressed its willingness to take enforcement actions against food operators who fail to meet these standards. Additionally, they encouraged individuals who encounter potentially errant food operators to report them through their online feedback form.
On the morning following the incident, Annabella Patisserie issued an apology on Madam Farahliza’s Facebook post at 8:30 am and subsequently uploaded security camera footage at 11:37 am as a follow-up.
The video footage, purportedly captured on Wednesday night at 9:27 pm, showed a staff member at the bakery packing an order and inspecting a bag before placing a box inside it. In response to The Straits Times’ inquiries, Annabella Patisserie issued a statement expressing deep regret and offering apologies for the disturbing occurrence. They emphasized their commitment to customer safety, well-being, and satisfaction.
Annabella Patisserie acknowledged that the presence of a foreign object in their delivery packaging constitutes a grave breach of their quality standards and undermines their dedication to providing safe and enjoyable culinary experiences. The bakery reached out to Madam Farahliza to offer a full refund and an apology. They also expressed their willingness to gather information for an internal investigation and provide support to her during this difficult time.
Furthermore, the bakery pledged to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities, review their quality control processes to ensure that all products and deliveries meet the highest standards of hygiene and safety, and reinforce their staff training programs to underscore the importance of adhering to stringent food safety protocols.
