Beauty World Food Centre potentially infested with rats, hawkers told to rat-proof food stores

Beauty World Food Centre is a mecca for delicious and affordable eats, however the beloved dining destination has recently been suspected of harbouring a rat infestation. Recent reports of rat sightings at the hawker centre has prompted the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) to carry out inspections of the place.

Among the incidents reported was that of a rat spotted pooping right next to a diner, who reported it to STOMP. The STOMPer also reported that “hordes of rats would crawl to and from the metal pipes, wire cables casings and into a garden located on level 5”. 

SFA and NEA’s preliminary joint inspections of Beauty World Food Centre revealed “signs of rat harbourage at the ceiling and common area”, and that enforcement action would be taken should a rat infestation be confirmed. 

A letter dated 23 Jan 2025 from the building management was sent to stall operators, informing them that extensive amounts of rat droppings had been identified by NEA, and that they posed “a significant hygienic risk” due to the fact that food was being served. 

Hawkers were then instructed to secure and rat-proof their supplies, as well as remove items from the common areas to prevent further rodent activity and eliminate potential breeding grounds and food sources.

Unfortunately, this is not Beauty World Food Centre’s first incident involving pests and hygiene issues. In April 2023, a fruit juice stall was reported due to an alleged cockroach infestation, with the owner of the stall in question insisting that the hawker centre was “pest-free”. Within that same year, in May, another stall was also reported to the authorities for lapses in food hygiene safety.

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