A hawker stall in Jurong East has come under scrutiny after a video surfaced online showing a man using a broom to clean tables and chairs at a busy food centre. The incident, which took place at Yuhua Place Market and Hawker Centre, quickly drew attention on social media, with netizens questioning hygiene standards at local eateries.
Footage circulating on Facebook showed the man sweeping across tabletops and chairs with a long-handled broom outside a cai fan stall. The act, which many described as inappropriate, triggered concerns over food safety and cleanliness in Singapore’s beloved hawker centres — a cornerstone of the nation’s dining culture and small business ecosystem.
A reporter later visited the hawker centre and established that the man in the video is related to the stall owner. According to the owner, who has been operating the business for two decades, the individual is her younger brother and assists with daily operations alongside her husband.
Stall Owner Responds To Public Backlash
Speaking to Chinese-language media outlet Shin Min Daily News, the stall owner explained that her brother typically begins work at 4am preparing ingredients and is also responsible for cleaning the stall and surrounding area after closing hours. She said she was unaware that he had used a broom to clean the tables and acknowledged that the method was inappropriate.
The owner stressed that the stall maintains strict hygiene practices and values its loyal customer base built over 20 years. She added that she would remind her brother not to repeat such actions and that greater care would be taken moving forward. At the same time, she urged customers to raise concerns directly rather than posting online, noting that viral posts can significantly affect small businesses, particularly in Singapore’s competitive food and beverage sector.
The incident also led to confusion among patrons, with some initially assuming the man was an officially appointed cleaner at the hawker centre.
Cleaners Clarify Standard Procedures
Several cleaners working at the hawker centre clarified that they were not involved and felt unfairly blamed when the video first circulated. They explained that cleaning duties are divided among teams, including dishwashing, floor cleaning and table wiping, and that all workers are trained according to established protocols.
According to cleaners interviewed by Shin Min Daily News, tables are meant to be wiped using cloths and a two-bucket system — one containing soapy water and another with clean water — to ensure proper sanitation standards are upheld.
Hawker centres remain a vital part of Singapore’s food culture, and incidents such as this highlight how public vigilance and responsible management both play roles in maintaining hygiene standards. While the stall owners have pledged improvements, the episode serves as a reminder that even minor lapses can quickly escalate in the age of social media.