Toa Payoh Pre‑School Lunch Turns a Quiet Noon Into a “Badness” Parade
On a bright Friday afternoon, a routine lunch at Sparkletots pre‑school in Toa Payoh West suddenly became the scene of a small (but serious) food‑fueled fiasco. A total of 14 little munchkins, all aged between three and six, were hit with nausea and diarrhoea after sharing the same meal.
Why the Fuss?
- About 40 toddlers dined together at 11:15 am.
- Symptoms first surfaced around 3:30 pm – the children started choking down their attempts to escape from the urge to vomit.
- No child needed a hospital stay, though many had to make an unexpected “trip” to the bathroom.
The Authorities React
The Agri‑Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), together with the Ministry of Health (MOH), promptly launched an investigation into the outbreak of gastroenteritis. By Saturday, all 14 affected cases had been confirmed.
Sparkletots Responds
PCF’s corporate affairs manager, Samuel Ng, assured parents that the news was shared with them as soon as possible. He said:
“We remain in close contact with the affected children’s parents and will monitor the situation.”
One concerned parent, speaking to Lianhe Wanbao, shared how the “two‑hour wait” felt more like a delayed emergency call:
“My daughter vomited five more times at the clinic, and when she returned home she was still spitting it out. The school should have contacted us immediately, not just after a couple of hours.”
Behind the Menu
After the in‑house cook left last November, Sparkletots began using an external caterer. Official details about the supplier remain under wraps, but the matter is now being handled by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and MOH.
What’s Next?
- ECDA has been asked to provide further information on the investigation.
- Parents are being kept up to date, and the school is working to ensure no similar episodes happen again.
- The incident serves as a reminder for pre‑schools to double‑check their lunch safety.
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