Singapore Food Agency Confirms Investigation into Alleged Food Safety Breach
A Singaporean woman has raised serious concerns about food hygiene after allegedly receiving a mouldy strawberry tiramisu from a dessert shop in Changi. The incident, which has since gone viral on Facebook, involves the use of SG60 CDC vouchers and has sparked a wider debate about consumer rights and accountability among home-based food sellers.
Tiramisu Allegedly Arrived Mouldy After Two-Hour Delay
According to Ms Nasriah Aziz, she had placed a dessert order amounting to S$109 on 23 July, using S$100 worth of SG60 vouchers and topping up the remainder via PayNow. However, the delivery reportedly arrived more than two hours late, at 8.22pm—well past the promised 6pm drop-off.
When her children opened the box of strawberry tiramisu, they allegedly discovered visible mould on the fruit topping. Shocked, Ms Nasriah immediately photographed the dessert and contacted the shop.
She stated that the staff initially said they would check with their boss, who later responded with a voice message offering only a S$15 refund for the defective item. Unsatisfied, Ms Nasriah’s husband proposed returning the dessert via delivery for a full refund, but the seller allegedly declined, citing an inability to process refunds for CDC voucher payments.
Customer Rejects Replacement, Cites Lack of Trust in Food Safety
Ms Nasriah rejected the shop’s offer to send a new batch of desserts, stating she had lost all confidence in their hygiene standards. “Who would dare to eat the other cakes when we already see this?” she wrote on Facebook, expressing frustration over what she described as the shop’s arrogant attitude and lack of remorse.
Notably, she also claimed that no apology was offered throughout the incident, and that the seller boldly remarked that “the customer is not always right.”
Adding to her dissatisfaction, Ms Nasriah alleged that when she attempted to leave a warning comment during the shop’s TikTok livestream to alert other potential customers, she was promptly blocked.
Singapore Food Agency Steps In
In response to media queries, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) confirmed that it has launched an investigation into the matter. SFA stressed that food operators are responsible for maintaining proper hygiene standards and urged the public to report any breaches.
“Food safety is a joint responsibility,” said SFA in a statement. “Operators must adhere to stringent food handling and preparation practices at all times.”
At the time of writing, Ms Nasriah has yet to receive a full refund or a formal apology. “Although it’s paid by voucher, I will not forgive you,” she said in her Facebook post. “The cakes don’t even look appetising.”
Vouchers or Not, Food Safety Must Be Non-Negotiable
This incident highlights a key concern surrounding CDC voucher usage and the responsibilities of participating vendors. While the vouchers are meant to support local businesses and ease the cost of living, consumers must not be shortchanged when it comes to food quality and service standards.
With digital payments and food delivery becoming increasingly common, maintaining consumer trust hinges on businesses being transparent, responsive, and above all, committed to safety.
The investigation by SFA is ongoing, and the cake shop involved has yet to provide an official comment.