ANN/STRAITS TIMES – MPs have called for food donors and rescuers to be thoroughly trained in handling large amounts of food safely, as they debated a proposed law that encourages the donation of unsold food while protecting businesses from lawsuits.
The Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill – conceptualised by Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) four years ago – seeks to shield donors from liability for any deaths or health issues resulting from the consumption of donated food, as long as strict hygiene and safety protocols are met.
Debating the Bill in Parliament on August 6, MPs stressed the need to prioritise food safety after recent mass food poisoning incidents involving TikTok parent company ByteDance and the Civil Defence Academy campus.
As at July 31, 17 people were hospitalised but in stable condition. The rest had sought outpatient treatment, self-medicated or recovered without treatment.
On July 23 and 24, a total of 165 Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel fell sick at the Civil Defence Academy campus in Jalan Bahar. SCDF said those affected experienced mild gastroenteritis, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea.
Citing the two incidents, Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang) said: “Recent incidents… serve as stark reminders of the risks associated with large-scale food handling. These situations, often involving catering or bulk cooking, can increase the likelihood of issues such as undercooking, improper storage, and prolonged exposure to hot weather.
Ng said the proposed law is designed in such a way that if any food safety issue arises with the donated food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) can still investigate and take enforcement action.
He added: “The difference is that food donors only need to show SFA that they have met the four conditions, and SFA would not impose any liability on the food donor.
“I should stress that the defendant seeking protection has the burden of proof.”
