51 pupils, 2 employees at 2 MOE kindergartens get gastroenteritis; Deli Hub Catering ops suspended
The food business operations of Deli Hub Catering have been suspended after 53 people, including 51 children, developed gastroenteritis symptoms at two MOE kindergartens.
The suspension took effect on Oct 27 and will last until further notice, said the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of Education (MOE) in a joint statement on Oct 27.
The cases were reported at MOE Kindergarten @ Springdale (in Sengkang) and MOE Kindergarten @ Gongshang (in Tampines), and CDA and SFA are investigating.
As at Oct 26, 51 pupils and two employees have reported developing gastroenteritis symptoms between Oct 21 and Oct 23, after consuming food supplied by Deli Hub Catering.
The caterer was engaged by the Kindergarten Care (KCare) operator at the two kindergartens.
The affected individuals had sought outpatient treatment, self-medicated, or recovered without treatment, said the authorities. None of them was hospitalised.
MOE is working with CDA, SFA and the affected kindergartens to assist in the investigations.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis, commonly known as stomach flu or food poisoning, include vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.
Gastroenteritis can spread through the consumption of contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated environments.
The authorities said the two kindergartens have stepped up hygiene and precautionary measures, including thorough cleaning and disinfection of the affected areas.
In the meantime, the KCare operator has arranged another food supplier for the two kindergartens, said the authorities.
Under the suspension, Deli Hub Catering, located in Taman Jurong, will have to clean and sanitise its premises, equipment, and utensils.
All food workers working on the premises will also have to re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1 and be tested negative for food-borne pathogens, before they can resume work.
The appointed food hygiene officer working on the premises must also re-attend and pass the Food Safety Course Level 3 before resuming work.
Deli Hub Catering, set up in 2004, is the halal catering arm of food solutions company Neo Group, according to Deli’s website.
In 2023, Deli Hub Catering was fined $4,000 for hygiene lapses after 21 people came down with gastroenteritis from consuming food that it had prepared.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the SFA jointly investigated the company’s premises after receiving reports of people falling sick in December 2022.
The investigation uncovered several hygiene lapses, including a dirty freezer, unclean food preparation containers and empty paper towel dispensers.
There have been other cases of gastroenteritis in 2026.
On July 29, catering company Gourtmetz was handed six charges over food safety offences committed under the Sale of Food Act.
This comes after the company’s alleged involvement in an incident where 60 pupils from River Valley Primary School suffered from gastroenteritis after consuming its food in January.
Also in January, SFA and CDA said they were investigating 147 suspected gastroenteritis cases involving pupils from North View Primary School in Yishun.
One pupil was hospitalised on Jan 17, and discharged on Jan 18 in stable condition.
In the Oct 27 statement, SFA said food safety is a joint responsibility and reminded food businesses to observe good food safety practices at all times.
The public can report poor food safety practices to SFA through its online feedback form at www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback
