More than 20 people have fallen ill in Singapore after eating a type of dessert pastry.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) are investigating five separate incidents affecting 23 people.

Patients reported gastroenteritis symptoms after consuming Mdm Ling Bakery Mao Shan Wang durian snow skin mooncakes. One person was hospitalized and has since been discharged.

The mooncakes were imported from Malaysia by Mdm Ling Bakery Pte Ltd. and sold at various retailers in Singapore.

Snow skin mooncakes are usually round and served cold. They can have a variety of filings including durian, a type of fruit.

SFA has told the importer to stop selling the product and to recall items that have been distributed. All expiration dates are affected.

Company officials apologized to affected customers via a post on Facebook.

“We take responsibility for the food items that we import and have been in close liaison with our production partner on this matter. Quality control is of utmost importance in our company because our customers’ well-being matters greatly to us. We would like to assure everyone that we treat all matters relating to food safety standards very seriously. In the meantime, we are cooperating fully with SFA and MOH in their investigations,” said the statement.

“Our management team has since reached out to customers who need our assistance and will continue to do so to make sure that all is well. We remain committed to providing you with a quality customer experience.”

Suspension at home-based firm lifted
Meanwhile, the SFA has lifted the prohibition for distribution and sale of food prepared by The Peachy Sugarmaker Pte Ltd.

The home-based business implemented measures requested by SFA so operations can resume. They included disposing of all ready-to-eat, thawed and perishable food items, and cleaning and sanitizing their premises, including replacing equipment and utensils.

The MOH and SFA received reports of gastroenteritis involving 47 people after eating food prepared by the home-based between Aug. 5 and 9. A dozen people were hospitalized.

SFA stopped the distribution and sale of food made by the business from Aug. 13 to Sept. 28. The first announcement in August mentioned 15 people were sick from the company that makes cakes and biscuits.

Consumers are advised to exercise discretion when purchasing from home-based food businesses. SFA said it would not hesitate to take action against anyone found to be in violation of food hygiene and public health rules.

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