SINGAPORE

The discovery of insects in food can lead to a dining experience gone horribly wrong, and that was exactly the case for a diner at the Chinese Garden Food Shop.

Ailing Wong took to social media on November 2 to share an alarming experience where she allegedly found a sizeable cockroach in her bowl of red bean soup.

According to Wong, a friend had purchased the soup from the food establishment located near the Chinese Garden MRT Station. The horrifying photographs she shared online depicted the brown cockroach resting ominously across a plastic spoon in the reddish-brown soup.

"Chinese Garden MRT... Beware of the hygiene. My friend bought the food from there. Fainted..." Wong wrote in her post, although it seems her original message has since been removed.

In an interview, Wong explained that after a few spoonfuls of soup, she made the shocking discovery of the unexpected insect. The cockroach was estimated to measure between three and four centimeters in length. Following the incident, the pair reported the situation through the OneService app, and investigations have now been initiated by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).

Wong mentioned that this was her first serious issue with the eatery, which she frequents once a month. "SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices," a spokesperson stated, reassuring the public that sufficient enforcement actions would be taken if necessary.

In response to the situation, Deng Xiaochen, the manager of Chinese Garden Food Shop, noted that health officials visited the premises on the same day to conduct an inspection. He expressed surprise upon learning about the incident and assured that all food items are stored properly—with lids on pots and food placed in containers post-cooking.

“We don’t know how the cockroach got in. Since the diner did not contact us, we can’t determine if it originated from our shop," he explained, emphasizing that monthly pest control measures have always been conducted, with no previous reports of insects in their food.

The incident raises broader concerns about food safety regulations in Singapore, a country known for its strict health standards. The SFA has reiterated that maintaining food safety is a collaborative effort involving both food operators and patrons alike.

As customers continue to seek peace of mind while dining out, this shocking discovery serves as a reminder to everyone in the food business to prioritize hygiene above all else.

Stay tuned as this story develops and for more shocking revelations in the world of dining!