by Theleaders | July 31, 2026 2:45 pm
SINGAPORE, July 31 — Singapore school caterer Gourmetz is facing six food safety charges linked to an incident where 60 pupils from River Valley Primary School (RVPS) suffered from gastroenteritis after consuming its meals.
The charges, filed under Singapore’s Sale of Food Act, involved alleged offences committed on July 29, The Straits Times reported today.
The Singapore newspaper cited from court documents that showed Gourmetz was accused of storing sauce in a dirty blue thermal tub, keeping raw marinated chicken on stained trolleys and failing to properly maintain its premises.
The company was also accused of producing steam chicken rice and garlic fried rice sets on Jan 16 that contained Bacillus cereus, a food-borne bacterium, above permissible limits.
Gourmetz allegedly placed false labels on bento sets on January 28, stating they were ready at 8.30am when they had actually been packed earlier at 6.48am.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it could not comment as the matter is before the courts.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said it was aware of the court proceedings and had tightened oversight of Gourmetz while ensuring school meal arrangements continued.
“MOE has strengthened our oversight on Gourmetz and reinforced food safety requirements while ensuring that meal arrangements in schools served by Gourmetz remain uninterrupted.
“The safety and well-being of students remain our utmost priority,” the ministry was quoted as saying.
The MOE added that it will monitor Gourmetz’s food safety performance and work with the operator to ensure strict compliance with the SFA’s safety requirements.
In January, 60 RVPS pupils reported gastroenteritis symptoms after eating lunches supplied by the school’s central kitchen meal operator.
Most of the affected pupils returned to school by January 16, while four needed more time to recover at home, according to MOE, SFA and the Communicable Diseases Agency.
None of the pupils were hospitalised.
Gourmetz was among operators appointed to provide meals under Singapore’s central kitchen meal model, which was introduced in 13 schools at the start of the year.
Besides RVPS, the company also supplied meals to CHIJ (Kellock), Radin Mas Primary, Blangah Rise Primary and Outram Secondary’s York Hill campus.
Under Singapore’s food safety rules, companies found guilty of offences involving unsafe food that causes illness, harm or injury can be fined up to S$50,000 (RM157,500) for a first offence.
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