SINGAPORE - The Chinese restaurant photographed with a dead rat in one of its vegetable dishes also had rat droppings on the premises, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has revealed.

After the NEA suspended business at Hotpot Culture in Marina Square last Friday, its investigations at the restaurant uncovered some dried rat droppings on the floor of the storeroom and on a false ceiling in the kitchen.

Gaps were also found in these areas where rodents could have entered the kitchen.

The NEA has instructed the restaurant to seal up potential entry points, and ensure that proper housekeeping, food storage, and waste management practices are followed.

Two more rats were caught by the restaurant's pest control operator on Jan 11. The restaurant has also carried out a thorough cleaning of the premises though business remains suspended indefinitely.

Enforcement action will be taken against the restaurant.

Under the Environment Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, licensees who sell food which is unclean can be fined up to $2,000. On conviction, they will also be issued with six demerit points.

NEA has said that it will continue to monitor the pest control treatment and hygiene practices in the restaurant.