Regulations, enforcement & shared responsibility to safeguard food safety

We refer to the letter by Ong Yihua, “Safety supervision of discounted food must be strengthened (须加强特价食品的安全监管)” (5 May).

 

The sale of expired food is an offence under the Sale of Food Act. Food retailers must ensure that the products they sell are fit for consumption and within their expiry dates. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) is looking into the incident mentioned and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where warranted.

 

SFA conducts regular inspections of food retail establishments to check for compliance with food safety regulations, including product shelf-life management. However, it is the responsibility of the retailers to conduct checks that the sale of food complies with SFA requirements, particularly for promotional or discounted items which may have been held in inventory for longer periods. Where lapses are identified, retailers are required to take immediate corrective action. 

 

Food safety is a joint responsibility. While SFA puts in place and enforces regulatory measures, the food industry must play their part by adhering to good food safety practices and ensuring that food products sold are safe for consumption. 

 

Consumers too, have a part to play. Consumers are advised to check food products expiry date markings and look out for any signs of spoilage before purchase. Those with concerns about food safety practices by food operators can report to SFA via the online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback). SFA takes a serious view of such feedback, will investigate all reports, and will not hesitate to take enforcement action where there is sufficient evidence.