Chinese restaurant in Singapore fined $8,000 for selling duck's blood
A Chinese restaurant was fined $8,000 on Wednesday (12 September) for selling illegally-imported duck’s blood, said the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).
The authority had acted on a tip-off and conducted checks at the Li Ji Chuan Chuan Xiang restaurant on 31 August 2017, where they found 6.3kg of duck’s blood available for sale as a dish to customers.
Investigations showed that the restaurant’s owner had purchased duck’s blood from a man via messaging platform WeChat.
Separately, the man who sold the product has been charged in court for the possession of illegally imported duck’s blood and meat products, and the abetment of illegal import of processed food.
The case is ongoing.
“Animal blood food products, such as duck’s blood, are prohibited in Singapore as blood can easily support the growth of bacteria and harbour diseases,” said the AVA. “Unhygienic harvesting of blood can also result in the introduction of foodborne pathogens into blood food products.”
Meat, eggs, and blood food products can only be imported from accredited sources in approved countries that comply with Singapore’s food safety standards and requirements, the authority added.
Any person who illegally imports meat products from unapproved sources faces a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or two years’ in jail or to both upon first conviction.
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