SINGAPORE - KG Catering was ordered to shut down for two weeks from Jan 23 to Feb 5 after racking up 12 demerit points in one year, linked to a food poisoning incident that left 92 people sick.

The catering business is located at 171 Kampong Ampat near MacPherson, and was penalised for two offences.

First, it failed to keep its premises free of infestation. Second, it sold or prepared food that is likely to be contaminated. Each offence resulted in six demerit points, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement on Jan 23.

It was also fined a total of $6,000 in November 2022.

Licence holders who rack up 12 or more demerit points in a year can have the licence suspended for either two weeks, four weeks or it could even get cancelled, SFA said.

The SFA statement said: "All food handlers working in the suspended premises would also be required to re-attend and pass the Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) Food Safety Course Level 1 before they can resume work as food handlers.

"The licensee is also required to ensure that all food hygiene officers working in the suspended premises, if there are any, re-attend and pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 3."

In November 2023, KG Catering was found to have flouted a raft of food safety rules when 92 people came down with food poisoning after consuming food prepared between Sept 20, 2022, and March 11, 2023.

In addition to the fines and the latest suspension, SFA also issued an immediate suspension on the caterer's operations from Nov 9, 2022 to Feb 1, 2023 for offences linked to the same incident.

The SFA statement added that food operators need to observe good food and personal hygiene practices at all times, and to engage only registered food handlers.

Firm action will be taken against anyone found to be in violation of the Environmental Public Health Act, SFA added.

Anyone who spots breaches of the law can report the matter via www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback or call SFA on 6805-2871.

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Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said KG Catering was fined twice in less than three months. SFA has clarified that the caterer has been fined just once.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.