Many of us enjoy a good, hearty meal of nasi lemak.
Some of us turn to Crave Nasi Lemak, the nasi lemak chain, for a quick and convenient meal.
However, one man found an insect in a begedil (potato patties) in his Crave nasi lemak.
After the man’s discovery, Crave recalled a recent batch of begedils.
Took to Facebook to Complain
The man, Mr Hayden Goh, posted his complaint on Facebook group Complaint Singapore on the morning of 15 August.
The short 16-second clip zooms in on a half-eaten begedil.
On the begedil lies an insect about the size of a grain of rice.
A nightmare for insect haters.
41-year-old Mr Goh, a customer service manager, recounted the ordeal to The Straits Times.
He bought two packets of nasi lemak from Crave’s Bedok Mall outlet for dinner on 14 August.
He said the bug was found in his wife’s food packet.
He also said his 17-month-old daughter fell sick with gastric flu the next day.
She had eaten some rice from his packet.
He told The Straits Times, “I contacted Crave immediately, and they shared that they have done the necessary checks and offered me compensation in terms of a refund, [reimbursing] my daughter’s medical bills, and food vouchers.
“My daughter started vomiting and had diarrhoea, but I wasn’t sure if it was caused by the food, but out of their goodwill, they decided to compensate us.”
Mr Goh revealed that he frequently patronises the nasi lemak chain.
He said this was the first time something like this had happened to him and was grateful that Crave took accountability for the incident.
He added, “I’m still liaising with Crave for a written response of the outcome of their findings that I’ve requested for over the phone.”
Crave’s Response
In a statement, Crave said they have contacted their supplier to investigate the situation.
They also told The Straits Times that they have conducted a “thorough assessment” of the store’s cleanliness standards.
In addition, the company has engaged the services of a professional pest control firm.
They said they decided to recall the batch of begedil “as a precautionary measure”.
They also said, “Our investigation has reaffirmed that our food safety protocols were diligently followed.
“Both our supplier and pest control specialist have confirmed that our premises are pest-free, and our products meet all food safety and health standards.”
Crave also said they have maintained communication with Mr Goh since the complaint.
Netizen Response
Some netizens shared similar encounters in the comments section of Mr Goh’s post.
One netizen commented that they saw a xiao qiang (cockroach in Mandarin) while queuing for Crave at Tampines Hub.
The netizen claimed that the workers pretended not to see the insect.
Another netizen said they patronised Crave’s Sun Plaza outlet and had a similar experience to Mr Goh.
Others mentioned that the sambal and begedil in their food from Crave were sour.
Notably, these encounters have yet to be confirmed.
Incident Reported to the Singapore Food Agency
Mr Goh told The Straits Times that he has since reported the matter to the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
In response to queries by STOMP, the SFA said that they are looking into the matter.
On 16 August, they said, “Food safety is a joint responsibility.
“While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food hygiene and preparation practices.
“Members of the public who come across any potential errant food operator should report to SFA via the online feedback form.
“SFA takes a serious view towards food safety and will investigate all feedback alleging poor food safety practices. As part of the enquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained.”
Similar Incidents
This is not the first time Crave has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
In 2018, Crave’s Plaza Singapura outlet was suspended for two weeks due to a rodent infestation.
In February 2023, a couple found a live parasitic worm in a kaisen don (Japanese raw fish rice bowl) purchased from Don Don Donki.
The couple only discovered the translucent worm when they were nearly finished with their meal.
According to a Don Don Donki spokesperson, it is not uncommon to find parasites in wild-caught seafood.
While there are proper cold-chain management and visual checks, there are times when parasites may be missed out during quality control checks.
It was announced in April that sixteen species of insects like crickets, silkworms and grasshoppers would receive approval from the SFA for human consumption in the second half of 2023.
However, the bug in the begedil doesn’t count.
While insects are technically a source of protein, the SFA website states that “insects must be farmed in a controlled environment and not harvested from the wild”.
Furthermore, the SFA advises against eating live or raw insects as they could carry bacteria and parasites that cause food poisoning.
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