Caterer Gourmetz fined S$13,000, warned over breaches linked to River Valley gastroenteritis incident

SINGAPORE: Catering company Gourmetz was fined S$13,000 (US$10,160) on Friday (Oct 9) over food safety offences linked to a River Valley Primary School gastroenteritis incident which left dozens of students ill.

River Valley Primary is one of the schools under the new central kitchen model for school meals, with Gourmetz operating its canteen. Gourmetz also serves four other schools: CHIJ Kellock, Radin Mas Primary School, Blangah Rise Primary School, and Outram Secondary School at York Hill. 

The Ministry of Education (MOE) said in response to CNA's queries on Friday that it has issued Gourmetz a formal warning, but has allowed it to continue as a central kitchen meal model operator after considering the measures it has taken since the incident.  

In a media release on Friday, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said that in January 2026, the authorities received reports of gastroenteritis that affected 45 students from River Valley Primary who had consumed food supplied by Gourmetz. One student was hospitalised and has since recovered.

The company faced six charges over alleged offences committed on Jan 16 and Jan 28 in relation to food storage, false labelling, bacterial contamination and maintenance of a licensed food establishment.

A company representative pleaded guilty to three of the charges, which were for failing to ensure that the licensed food establishment was properly maintained and kept clean, falsely labelling bento sets, and failing to ensure that food was stored in a way that was protected from contamination. The remaining charges were taken into consideration for sentencing. 

According to the prosecution, the authorities conducted an inspection at Gourmetz's premises at 1 Enterprise Road in response to the incident and found several food hygiene lapses on Jan 16. They found that the gasket of the meat chiller room door was damaged, which could compromise the temperature of the room and affect the meat stored. 

They also found the rack used to store seafood was dirty with accumulated scum, and the ceiling of the processed vegetable chiller room was dirty with black spots. 

The authorities conducted another inspection on the morning of Jan 28 and discovered that there were packed bento meals that had been prepared and were ready for delivery. The meals were labelled "ready by 8.30am" even though they had been packed and ready for delivery at about 6.48am.

The labels were false as they indicated a later preparation time instead of the actual time they were prepared and ready, the prosecution said. It said the timestamps on labels indicated when meals were prepared to monitor their holding time, as the recommended consumption period is within four hours. 

Officers also found raw marinated chicken on dirty plastic pallets and frozen pastries uncovered in a raw material freezer. Uncovered food in storage is exposed to contamination, the prosecution said. 

The prosecution sought a fine of S$13,000, which was imposed by the court. 

When asked for the company's mitigation, the representative said he had nothing to say. 

SFA said: "All food operators should ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, as well as adhere to SFA's food safety requirements. SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators found to be in violation of the Sale of Food Act 1973 and the Sale of Food (Non-Retail Food Business) Regulations."

MOE ISSUES FORMAL WARNING

In its reply to CNA, MOE said it has carefully considered the circumstances of the case, including further measures taken by Gourmetz to improve food safety controls and its overall performance since the incident. 

"Since the January incident, Gourmetz has strengthened its operations, including relocating to a larger central kitchen under its parent company Neo Group’s direct supervision and deploying in-house food safety officers to conduct regular operational audits," a spokesperson said. 

"Taking these factors into account, MOE has decided to allow Gourmetz to continue as a Central Kitchen Meal Model operator."

MOE said it had also made clear that any future serious or repeated food safety lapses would have serious consequences, including termination of service.

"The safety and well-being of students remain our utmost priority. MOE and schools will continue to keep a close watch on Gourmetz’s performance and work with the operator to ensure strict compliance with SFA's food safety requirements," the spokesperson added.

For failing to ensure that a food establishment is properly maintained and kept clean, its licensee may be fined up to S$5,000, and in a continuing offence, be fined up to S$100 for every day the offence continues after conviction. 

Those who sell food which is falsely labelled may be fined up to S$5,000 and, in the case of subsequent conviction, be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed for up to three months, or both.

Those who fail to ensure that food is stored in such a way that it is protected from the likelihood of contamination could be fined up to S$5,000, and in a continuing offence, be fined up to S$100 for every day the offence continues after conviction.