NEA lifts suspension on Hotpot Culture

NEA lifts suspension on Hotpot Culture

SINGAPORE - The National Environment Agency (NEA) has lifted the suspension placed on Chinese restaurant Hotpot Culture, which made headlines last month for a rat carcass found in one of its buffet dishes.

According to The Straits Times, NEA said in a statement that it has found the restaurant's premises to be clean with no signs of rat activity during its latest inspection.

NEA added that it has applied for a courts summon against the restaurant licensee which has been found to have sold food unfit for human consumption. If found guilty, he will be fined up to $10,000 and issued six demerit points.

Hotpot Culture, located in Marina Square, was ordered to suspend business on Jan 9 as the NEA conducted investigations following public feedback.

Dried rat droppings were found during NEA's inspection of the restaurant's premises and two rats were caught during the pest control treatment carried out in the restaurant on Jan 11.

My Paper reported on Jan 27 that further investigations conducted by NEA revealed that there were traces of rat activity in 14 food and beverage (F&B) outlets in the same shopping mall.

To win back customers, Hotpot Culture's management has announced that it will hold an open house event on Feb 6 where customers can dine at the restaurant free of charge.

Existing members will also receive 20 per cent discounts instead of the usual 10 per cent for the months of February and March.

In addition, the restaurant is offering full refunds to customers affected by the incident on Jan 9.

minlee@sph.com.sg

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