A Mask Mishap at Yishun 81 Coffee Shop
Picture this: it’s a bright, humid Saturday morning at Block 925 Yishun Central, and the aroma of Fu Zhu claypot bak kut teh is filling the air. Two food handlers at the stall look a bit off‑beat—mask tucked under their chin or zipped up like a headband. That’s the headline for the day, and it got some serious attention from Stomp contributor Kohji.
The Face‑Mask Fumble
Snap‑chat style photos from Kohji show the two women with their masks beneath their chins. The next evening, at 9:55 pm, he walked past again (in the name of “curiosity” and a craving for more bak kut teh) and realized the drama was still going on. One of the helpers even chatted away with her colleague and a friend while the other whipped up the broth in all the chaos.
SFA’s Quick Come‑back
When SFA (Singapore Food Agency) got an alert, they came in, swung by the stall, and did a tick‑tock inspection. Turns out, during their checkpoint, the food handlers had been all set with masks and spit guards. The agency reminded the stall owners to enforce the kitchen rules—else, you could see the enforcement teams in a future episode of “The Re-Cleaning Chronicles.”
“Public citizens who spot potential slip‑ups can flag it via the online feedback form,” SFA said. They’re not shy about sending the licence holders to the paperwork abyss if the evidence lines up.
Quick Reference: When Masks Are Mandatory
- Cooking, preparing ingredients, or simply whisking out a pot.
- Packing those steaming bowls of ready‑to‑eat goodies.
- Serving up freshly made dishes.
- Whipping up drinks—yes, even the latte ones.
When You Can Skip the Mask
- Presenting plated food to customers.
- Handing out pre‑packed or “bento” meals.
- Cleaning up: collecting dishes, washing tables, and all that.
- Stocking or storing ready‑to‑pack goodies.
- Taking payments or dealing with raw produce sales.
Curious about all the details? Dive into SFA’s site at www.sfa.gov.sg/maskorspitguardrequirements for the whole scoop.
