SINGAPORE: Food handlers in wet markets only need to wear the mask or throw guard if they are dealing with cooked food and ready-to-eat food, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in an updated advisory on Thurs (Sep 8).
The agency additional that this is similar to requirements for supermarkets, where it only pertains to food handlers working at counters associated with ready-to-eat food preparation. These include sushi, beef roasts meat and deli counters, as well as bakeries.
SFA said the updates were made to “provide greater clarity” to the industry on cover up wearing requirements.
On Aug 29, Singapore eased rules plus made wearing a mask indoors optional, aside from public transport and healthcare settings.
Companies and industry regulators can decide if employees need to wear a mask. SFA stated on Aug 24 that existing field requirements on mask wearing would always apply.
“All food handlers will still be required to put on over his nose and mouth a mask or spit guard that is effective at preventing any element expelled from his mouth or nose from contaminating foods, ” SFA stated in its earlier advisory.