SINGAPORE – A total of 183 food poisoning cases linked to durian pastries sold by Goodwood Park Hotel have been reported so far, the Ministry of Health (MOH), National Environment Agency (NEA) and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a joint statement on Thursday (May 5).
In the statement, the authorities also said that the Goodwood Park Hotel bakery will remain suspended until food handling lapses are rectified.
MOH first launched epidemiological investigations at the hotel’s bakery after authorities were alerted to five food poisoning cases on March 15.
As initial inspections by NEA did not reveal any hygiene lapses, the cases were treated as isolated cases.
About three weeks later, MOH stepped up its investigations when more cases were reported. On April 13, joint investigations were carried out at the hotel.
More cases were again reported in the week of April 18, the authorities said.
The investigations revealed some lapses in food handling at Goodwood Park Hotel’s durian pastry kitchen. Meanwhile, checks into suppliers who provided food ingredients to the kitchen revealed no lapses.
MOH and NEA subsequently suspended the bakery’s licence on April 22, as soon as the link between the pastries and the food poisoning cases was established.
After this was announced, more consumers who believe they were affected by the durian pastries have stepped forward.
While further investigations are ongoing, NEA and MOH are working with Goodwood Park Hotel to ensure the kitchen is thoroughly cleaned, and all food handlers undergo medical screening and are re-trained on safe food handling practices.
ljessica@sph.com.sg
