The Indian Rojak Incident

I've had a constant temptation to comment on the food hygiene of Singapore's F&B industry ever since the recent case of severe food poisoning. As a chef, I must say that it is tragic that hawkers and others alike lack either education or dedication to food, and most importantly their customers. I have myself seen chefs dip their spoons into the saucepan and into their mouths then back into the saucepan, then the cycle repeats. Absolutely disgusting. I can only wonder what runs through their minds when they're handling food, that's going out to millions.

Of course, it is amusing that hawkers out there in foreign countries still survive to this day, such as street hawkers in Taiwan or Thailand. I sometimes wonder, are Singaporeans too pampered, tamed or just simply weak? Okay that's not the issue anyway. Coming back to my point, the food industry is something easy to survive on no matter where you are on the globe, however I realise more than often these days that alot of people fail to pay attention to basic hygiene. They're more concerned about money going into their puny pockets rather than what's really going out to the people who matter. C'mon, who's paying for your salary right?

There might be other factors, such as lack of education; as I've mentioned. Tragic... real tragic. Nevertheless I believe every hawkers, cooks and chefs should take an initiative to ensure that they understand basic hygiene. It is their responsibility, or rather their job afterall don't you agree? Especially the management. (It is often the people at fault and not the organisation that's flawed)

I feel sorry anyway for the many who make a living by selling Indian Rojak.