Caterer Gourmetz fined S$13,000 after giving 45 River Valley Primary students gastroenteritis

The court has fined catering company Gourmetz S$13,000 for food safety offences in connection with the gastroenteritis outbreak in River Valley Primary School.

In mid-January 2026, students reported experiencing gastroenteritis symptoms after eating lunch from the school's central kitchen, which was supplied by Gourmetz.

According to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA)'s Oct. 9 media release, 45 students were affected. One was hospitalised and has since recovered.

Together with the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA), the SFA conducted a joint inspection at Gourmetz’s premises on Jan. 16 and identified multiple food safety lapses.

These included storing food in dirty containers and trolleys, according to charge sheets.

When SFA followed up with another inspection on Jan. 28, it found further food storage violations as well as false food labelling.

On Oct. 9, the company pleaded guilty to three charges for failing to ensure its food establishment is properly maintained and kept clean, labelling food falsely, and failing to ensure that food was stored in a way that was protected from contamination.

Another three similar charges were taken into consideration for sentencing.

The company was fined S$13,000 and paid it that same day.

First inspection

During the Jan. 16 inspection, CDA and SFA found that several chiller rooms at Gourmetz's premises were not clean and well maintained.

The rubber gasket of door at the meat chiller room was damaged.

In the seafood chiller room, the built-in rack was dirty with accumulated scum, while in the processed vegetable chiller room, the ceiling was dirty with black spots.

Some food was also found stored in ways that could risk contamination.

In the processed vegetable chiller room, there was sauce kept in a dirty thermal tub with accumulated stains on its exterior.

Marinated chicken was also stored on a dirty trolley with accumulated food stains in the meat chiller room.

Furthermore, the authorities assessed that two ready-to-eat sets (steam chicken rice and garlic fried rice) produced by Gourmetz contained Bacillus cereus, a bacteria that can cause food poisoning, exceeding the permissible limit.

Follow-up inspection

During the Jan. 28 inspection, SFA discovered additional food storage violations.

Two trays of frozen pastries were left uncovered in the raw material freezer.

In the meat chiller room, four trays of raw marinated chicken were kept on dirty plastic pallets in the meat chiller room, and more on two dirty trolleys that had food stains at the bottom and side.

There were also bento meal sets prepared for sale and labelled “Ready by: 830AM”, which was false, SFA said.

These sets were actually packed and ready earlier, at about 6:48am, therefore giving a false impression that the food would last till a later hour.

The prosecution sought a fine of S$13,000, which the court imposed, CNA reported.

At court, Gourmetz's representative was asked for the company's mitigation, and he replied that he had nothing to say.