SINGAPORE – A total of 187 gastroenteritis cases have been linked to the distribution of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meals during a Total Defence Day exercise in February, sparking an ongoing investigation.
Of the 187 reported cases, 184 occurred at schools, two at active ageing centres, and one at a public agency. This represents about 0.16% of all participants, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu revealed in Parliament on March 4. She confirmed that all affected individuals received medical attention and have since recovered, with no hospitalisations reported.
Fu’s comments came in response to questions raised by several Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding a food poisoning incident at the School of the Arts (Sota), where 20 students exhibited symptoms of gastroenteritis after consuming the RTE meals.
The RTE meals, part of a batch of 150,000 meals developed by food solutions provider Sats, were prepared for public distribution in the event of national emergencies. These meals were scheduled for distribution from February 15 to 28 as part of Exercise SG Ready 2025.
MPs, including Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) and Mr Dennis Tan (Hougang), questioned the supplier vetting process, potential penalties for lapses, and steps to restore public confidence in food safety.
Testing by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on samples of the meals found no foodborne pathogens, Fu stated. However, she added that both the SFA and the Ministry of Health (MOH) are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. If any violations are found, appropriate enforcement actions will be taken.
“We agree that restoring public confidence in RTE meals is essential,” Fu said, noting that while the investigation continues, it is premature to outline specific corrective actions.
The SFA will conduct an after-action review to assess lessons learned from the incident. In the meantime, the agency will continue collaborating with schools, food businesses, and community partners on the food resilience programme.
Following the Sota incident, authorities suspended the Total Defence food resilience programme on February 20, pending the outcome of the investigation. The school also retrieved all unconsumed RTE meals. On the same day, officials contacted other participants to determine if additional cases of illness were reported.
Fu confirmed that Sats, as an SFA-licensed establishment, is required to comply with strict food safety regulations. These include preventing cross-contamination between raw and cooked food, maintaining cleanliness, and ensuring food workers are trained in food safety.
Before the RTE meals were distributed, SFA had inspected Sats’ premises and found no violations of food safety standards. Additionally, Sats tested each meal for leaks, and samples underwent microbiological testing at an SFA-accredited laboratory.
In a follow-up question, Dr Tan Wu Meng (Jurong GRC) inquired whether the meals had been tested under various storage conditions to simulate real-life scenarios. Fu responded that Sats had conducted tests under conditions that mirrored transportation and storage in community settings. Nonetheless, she acknowledged that the authorities would review these test conditions to strengthen the programme’s robustness.
Mr Yip also raised concerns about whether food inspections covered the entire supply chain, from ingredient sourcing to distribution. Fu explained that while inspections are conducted at all stages, the SFA adopts a risk-based approach, directing resources to higher-risk areas for more effective food safety measures.
Regarding the duration of the investigation, Fu assured MPs that the authorities are working as quickly as possible, but stressed that there is no immediate food safety concern. “The RTE meals are isolated and controlled, and the programme has been paused for now,” she said.
Looking ahead, Fu emphasized the importance of learning from the incident to improve resilience to disruptions in food supply. “This is not a small undertaking,” she said. “We will learn from these lessons and be better prepared for the next roll-out of the programme.”
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