AMK Mellben Seafood staff seen cutting crabs on dish cloth used to wipe plates, owner says staff disciplined

UPDATE on Nov. 21, 2:30pm: The article has been updated with SFA's statement.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from Mellben Seafood's Ang Mo Kio outlet has drawn scrutiny after one of the kitchen staff was seen cutting crabs on a dish cloth apparently used to wipe plates.

Employees were also seen handling the crabs without gloves.

The incident came to light after a video, filmed by a customer, was uploaded onto the Facebook group Singapore Stuff on Nov. 17.

The video later sparked criticism over the restaurant's hygiene practices.

Cutting crabs on a dish cloth

In the CCTV footage, two staff members could be seen handling crabs, with one of them cutting a crab on a white dish cloth.

The customer, who filmed the video, could be heard asking one of the employees if it is appropriate for them to be doing so.

The employee replied that the cloth had been washed “many times”, adding that they use it to "wipe dishes".

The customer then questioned why the crab was not prepared on a cutting board, noting that the food was “going into [their] mouths”.

Following this, laughter could be heard and the customer asked if it was "a laughing matter".

The footage also showed the staff member placing crabs into a pot with his bare hands, and another was later seen using the same cloth to wipe the kitchen counter down.

Employees involved have been disciplined

The incident took place at around 10pm on Nov. 16, shortly before the restaurant closed for the day, the restaurant owner told 8world.

He said the kitchen had already been cleaned and the cloths shown in the video were freshly washed and intended for use on dishes, not dirty surfaces.

However, he acknowledged that the practices shown did not comply with the restaurant’s standard operating procedures, which require crabs to be prepared on a cutting board and handled with tongs or gloves.

He revealed that the kitchenware had already been washed as staff were preparing to close the restaurant, hence they decided to use the cloth instead.

He affirmed that the employees involved have been verbally warned and will undergo additional food hygiene training, he said, describing the lapse as an "isolated oversight".

Customer had initially made a complaint regarding the crab he was served

The owner told 8world that the footage emerged after a disagreement with the customer, who accused the restaurant of replacing the shell of a large Sri Lankan crab he had ordered.

The restaurant denied the allegation, saying only one large crab remained that night.

To address the customer’s complaint, the restaurant allowed him to view its CCTV footage, but the owner said that no permission was given to record it.

He later found that the customer had filmed the CCTV screen and uploaded the clip online.

“He only raised the complaint after almost finishing the meal,” the owner said, adding that the restaurant has, over its 30 years in business, occasionally faced unreasonable accusations. “If we had anything to hide, we would not have let him viewed the CCTV footage.”

"If he really felt there was something wrong with the crab, he should have reported it immediately, instead of complaining after eating it," the owner added.

The owner also said when the customer found no evidence the crab shell had been "replaced" in the footage, they turned their attention to the fact that the staff were cutting the crab on a dish cloth and handling crabs with their bare hands.

The owner said he was naturally worried that the incident would affect his business.

"To be honest, we are not speaking out to clarify our reputation, nor to deny or cover up the facts," he said.

"We just want the public to know that we are aware of the problem and are taking corrective measures, and we apologise to our customers for this kind of incident happening in our store."

SFA's response

In response to Mothership's queries, an SFA spokesperson stated that they are investigating the incident.

The agency also emphasised that food safety is a "joint responsibility", and that food operators have to play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices, as well as ensuring their premises are clean and well-maintained.

Members of the public who have concerns about food safety practices by food operators should report to SFA via this online feedback form.

"SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices. As part of the enquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained."

Mothership has reached out to Mellben Seafood for more information.

Top photos via Singapore Stuff/Facebook