Big chains can meet high cleanliness ratings but smaller ones face a tougher challenge
By
Judith Tan & Ang Yiying
A foodcourt stall at the Singapore General Hospital with its A rating prominently displayed on the wall. SGH said it would terminate future leases with foodcourt operators that do not have an A rating for all their stalls within six months of running the place. -- ST PHOTO: LIM SIN THAI
HOSPITAL food outlets can easily meet the challenge by Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan to achieve A or B hygiene ratings or risk losing their stalls, given the stringent standards they have to meet now.
And at least one hospital, Singapore General, will now make it compulsory for stalls to be rated A if foodcourt operators want their leases to be renewed.
By contrast, food sellers in hawker centres and small coffeeshops said the same requirements would be impossibly high for them.
Hospital foodcourts said they are already held to higher standards with frequent internal checks and a hospital culture emphasising cleanliness to prevent the spread of disease.
Working hard to raise his B rating to an A is Mr Alson Ng, 45, who runs a new Western food stall at the National University Hospital.
He said it was only right that food operators practised strict hygiene. 'If we are going to do something, we should always give our best,' he said.
High standards are also expected of the 21 food outlets, which include six foodcourts, at the three hospitals and two specialist medical centres under the SingHealth group.
Each outlet is audited up to four times a week by the hospitals themselves on the general cleanliness of its kitchen and service areas, food handling and preparation, food storage, and personal hygiene.
On Sunday, Mr Khaw urged hospital cafeterias to lead the way in better hygiene, and suggested that hospitals tie it to tenancy agreements.
Changi General Hospital said it was compulsory for all stalls there to have either an A or B rating.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.
