Suspension lifted on Goodwood Park Hotel bakery after food safety measures in place

Goodwood Park Hotel's bakery licence is no longer suspended, having satisfactorily implemented food safety measures to rectify hygiene lapses that the NEA had earlier detected. ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI

SINGAPORE - Goodwood Park Hotel's bakery licence is no longer suspended, said the National Environment Agency (NEA), Health Ministry, and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority in a joint statement on Friday (May 20).

This is because the bakery has satisfactorily implemented food safety measures to rectify hygiene lapses that the NEA had earlier detected.

The bakery's licence was suspended on April 22 after at least 76 cases of food poisoning were linked to its popular durian pastries.

Joint investigations at the bakery by the three agencies found that poor personal and food handling hygiene practices were behind the outbreak.

In particular, two food handlers from the durian pastry kitchen tested positive for norovirus. Stool samples from three consumers who fell ill during the outbreak also tested positive for the bug.

During the suspension period, the bakery had disposed of all pastries that were for sale, and stopped preparing and selling any pastries.

The bakery - including equipment, utensils, work surfaces, and toilets - were cleaned and sanitised. Lapses in food preparation processes were reviewed and rectified, and all food handlers were sent for stool screening.

When the bakery was re-inspected on April 28, no foodborne pathogens were detected there.

Kitchen staff now have to declare their health condition daily before they are allowed to start work. Food handlers have re-attended and passed the Basic Food Hygiene training course. All of them can resume work except the two who tested positive for norovirus, who can return to work only when they have got clearance from the Health Ministry.

NEA will continue to monitor the situation at the hotel bakery, and will be taking enforcement actions against it for the hygiene infringements found.

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