Self-service buffets to resume from April 30; outlets to provide sanitiser, disposable gloves for patrons

[The_King]

SINGAPORE — Food-and-beverage (F&B) establishments will be allowed to resume self-service buffets from Saturday (April 30), but with a new licensing condition of providing hand sanitiser or disposable gloves for customers. 

F&B establishments providing buffets must place at least two bottles of hand sanitisers containing at least 60 per cent of alcohol or two packs of disposable gloves in the vicinity of a self-service buffet, with all starting points covered, said the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) in a press release on Friday. 

For example, one bottle of hand sanitiser or one pack of disposable gloves could be placed at each end of the buffet line, and replenished when depleted. 

These rules will also apply for self-service buffets held in an external venue. 

SFA acknowledged that proper hand washing with soap and water is the most effective way to remove harmful bacteria, but noted that “it may not always be possible for patrons of self-service buffets to wash their hands before every handling of serving cutlery”. 

 

 

“As such, hand sanitisers or disposable gloves can be used to reduce potential contamination of the serving cutlery,” it said. 

SFA explained that the hand sanitisers must contain at least 60 per cent alcohol as they are known to be more effective against microorganisms.

“This is line with recommendations made by international bodies such as the World Health Organization and United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention,” the agency said. 

SFA also reminded F&B outlets to adopt other good practices such as frequent cleaning and replacing of serving cutlery, as well as using plastic or glass barriers to protect food from exposure to environmental contamination.