No link found between food poisoning cases and Total Defence Day ready-to-eat meals: SFA, MOH

SINGAPORE - There is no conclusive evidence linking the 187 cases of gastroenteritis in February during a Total Defence Exercise to the consumption of the ready-to-eat meals distributed as part of the exercise, investigations have shown.

The Singapore Food Agency and the Ministry of Health said in a joint statement on April 15: “This means that both food safety and clinical findings did not pinpoint the ready-to-eat (RTE) meals as the definitive cause of the incident.”

Meal samples, environmental swabs of equipment and contact surfaces at Sats’ premises, as well as stool samples from affected individuals and food handlers were taken for laboratory testing. Results showed no food-borne pathogen, according to the joint statement.

SFA’s investigation of the Sats’ manufacturing premises and processes also found no food safety lapses.

RTE meals were developed by Sats for the public’s consumption during national emergencies, and 150,000 such meals were

to be distributed from Feb 15 to 28

as part of the 2025 Exercise SG Ready.

The 187 individuals afflicted with gastroenteritis made up 0.2 per cent of all participants during the Food Resilience Preparedness Programme, according to the statement.

There were 184 cases in schools, two in active ageing centres and one in a public agency, according to previous reports.

Distribution of the RTE meals was suspended on Feb 20 after the food poisoning incident. Over 100,000 meals had been delivered to more than 200 locations at the time.

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu said in Parliament on March 4 that SFA had inspected and found Sats’ premises to be clean on Jan 23, before the distribution of RTE meals. No food safety violations were detected.

SFA is working closely with Sats to review and strengthen the latter’s food production processes, according to the April 15 joint statement.

In a separate statement, Sats Food Solutions CEO Stanley Goh said the company was pleased that its RTE meals were cleared by the investigations, which had its production facilities, kitchen staff and operational practices “put through a comprehensive review to assess food safety across the production cycle”.

“We hope that the SFA and MOH findings offer additional assurance of the high food safety standards in place within Sats kitchens,” he said.

“We take this opportunity to emphasise and assure everyone that food safety is our highest priority.”