Measures in place to ensure food safety of autonomous kitchen systems

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We refer to the Forum letter by Mr Cheong Wing Kiat, “Clarity on accountability needed for autonomous kitchens” (Sept 11).

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) takes a science-based, risk management approach to ensure food safety. This includes regulating food vending machines with autonomous food preparation systems.

Operators of food vending machines that are designed with in-machine food processing functions (for example, cooking, juicing, or mixing of ingredients), or involved the sale of raw meat and seafood, must obtain a licence from SFA. These licensed operators must adhere to food safety requirements, such as implementing a regular maintenance regime to ensure that the machines are clean, hygienic, and in good working condition. Operators must also notify SFA of the locations where the food vending machines are deployed, and the SFA licence number must be displayed to facilitate consumer feedback.

While operators of vending machines selling pre-packed food do not require an SFA licence, the food products must still be obtained from SFA-licensed sources to ensure food safety requirements are met.

SFA conducts checks on licensed food vending machines to ensure that they are clean, pest-free and that the food storage temperatures within the machines are in accordance with food safety requirements. Checks are also conducted on food establishments producing food for vending machine sale to ensure that the food is produced under sanitary conditions and is safe for consumption.

To date, SFA’s testing of food sold in vending machines has found them to meet food safety standards.

Beyond food safety, all food vending machine operators must display the Nutri-Grade mark for beverages high in sugar or saturated fat. Autonomous kitchens operating in areas such as government premises and schools are also required to use healthier ingredients as part of food preparation, and serve beverages lower in sugar and saturated fat. The Health Promotion Board conducts audits for compliance with these requirements periodically.

SFA will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure that technological innovations do not compromise food safety, and will not hesitate to take enforcement on operators for food safety lapses. Members of the public may report any food safety concerns to SFA via the online feedback form (www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback).

Tan Han Kiat
Senior Director, Licensing Division
Singapore Food Agency

Forum letter by Mr Cheong Wing Kiat, “Clarity on accountability needed for autonomous kitchens” (Sept 11)