Food establishments should ensure that cloths used during food preparation are clean

We thank 黄森永’s in his letter, “咖啡店的抹布 被忽视的卫生隐患” (3 April 2025) for his suggestions.

Clean cloths are fundamental to food safety and hygiene in food establishments. Dirty cloths should not be used to clean anything that may come into contact with food. This includes appliances, utensils, and contact surfaces in food preparation areas. Dirty cloths may become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria and can transfer bacteria across different surfaces, utensils, and food containers. Enforcement actions will be taken against food establishments for the sale of unsafe food, as well as poor food safety practices detected during the preparation of food for sale.

Food safety is a joint responsibility. While the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices. Members of the public who have concerns about food safety practices by food operators should report to SFA via the online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback).

SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices. As part of the enquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained.

Siti Suriani Abdul Majid
Senior Director 高级署长
Joint Operations Division 联合行动署
Singapore Food Agency 新加坡食品局

LHZB Forum Letter - 咖啡店的抹布 被忽视的卫生隐患 (3 Apr 2025)