The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has launched an investigation into illegal food sales in public spaces, following reports of Filipino maids hawking homemade food near Orchard MRT Station. The incident, witnessed by Shin Min Daily News on January 19, saw six women selling pre-packed food at busy locations including the MRT station entrance and a nearby bus stop.
Two of the women were spotted sitting near the escalator at Orchard MRT Station with several bags of food at their feet. Every few minutes, they interacted with passersby who purchased the food. Meanwhile, four other women were observed setting up makeshift stalls at a nearby bus stop, crowded with commuters. The women displayed over a dozen bags of rice noodles, rice cakes, and other traditional snacks on a low wall, while engaging in conversation with potential customers.
According to one of the sellers, the women, all of whom were Filipino domestic workers, prepared the traditional food from their homeland during their time off and sold it to supplement their income. The food, packed in plastic containers, was priced at $5 per item. In addition to selling on-site, they also took orders from regular customers for special gatherings.
The makeshift setup, however, resulted in some inconvenience to the public, as food containers were often placed on seats, depriving commuters of a place to sit. Despite this, the business was booming, with the women selling around 50 containers of food in just three hours.
The SFA responded to the issue on January 22, confirming that it is investigating the matter. The agency emphasized that selling food products in public spaces without a valid licence is a violation of the Environmental Public Health Act. Unregulated food hawking presents risks to public health, as such food items may not meet safety standards.
The SFA cautioned that illegal hawkers are difficult to trace, making it challenging for consumers to seek redress if issues arise with the products. To prevent such risks, the public is advised to avoid purchasing from unlicensed sellers and report any suspected illegal hawking to the SFA through its online feedback form.
In addition to enforcement actions, the SFA noted that illegal hawkers facing financial difficulties may be referred to social service agencies for support.
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