Protecting Food Safety: Mask and Spit Guard Requirements

Food safety training is crucial for food handlers to prevent contamination and ensure public health. In Singapore, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) mandates masks or spit guards for food handlers.

Activities Requiring Masks/Spit Guards

  1. Preparation of ingredients and/or cooking of food
  2. Packing of cooked and/or Ready-to-Eat food
  3. Dishing of cooked and/or Ready-to-Eat food
  4. Preparation of drinks

Who Needs to Wear Masks/Spit Guards?

Food handlers in:

  • retail food establishments such as restaurants, takeaways, food shops within pubs/bars/nightclubs/discos, caterers, street hawkers handling / preparing ready-to-eat food for sale (e.g. ice cream),
  • hawker centers, coffee shops, canteens, food courts and temporary fairs (i.e. hawker and coffee shop assistants dishing cooked food will need to wear face masks or spit guards)
  • market stalls, market produce shops, and supermarkets that are engaged in the above activities. Examples include cooked char siew meat stalls in wet markets, and sushi, roast meat, and deli counters in supermarkets where there is handling of cooked/ready-to-eat food.  
  • non-retail food establishments, which includes food manufacturers, central kitchens, meat, fish, and egg processing establishments, and slaughterhouses.

Requirements:

  • Masks/spit guards must cover mouth and nose
  • Disposable (paper masks, surgical masks, N95 masks) or reusable (cloth masks)
  • Clean attire, including masks/spit guards, must be worn

Exemptions:

  • Personnel bringing plated food to consumers
  • Delivering packed/bento food
  • Cleaning activities
  • Stocking and storing pre-packed goods
  • Collection of payments
  • Sale of raw and/or non-Ready-to-Eat market produce 

Compliance with SFA Regulations

Food handlers must wear masks or spit guards that cover the mouth and nose.

  • Disposable (paper masks, surgical masks, N95 masks)
  • Reusable (cloth masks)

Consequences of Non-Compliance

SFA may take action against licensees found breaching the regulations listed in the Environmental Public Health Act 1987 (“EHPA”), Sale of Food Act 1973 (“SOFA”) and Wholesome Meat and Fish Act 1999 (“WMFA”).

Ensure your food handlers comply with SFA regulations. Invest in food safety training today.

Source: https://www.sfa.gov.sg/maskorspitguardrequirements/wearing-of-masks-or-spit-guards-by-food-handlers

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *