Equinox at Swissotel gets hygiene rating downgrade after 51 diners fall ill
SINGAPORE: The Equinox restaurant at Swissotel the Stamford had its food hygiene status downgraded to "C" on Friday (May 4), due to an outbreak of "foodborne illness", said the National Environment Agency (NEA).
The restaurant's hygiene rating had been "A" prior to this, Swissotel's marketing communications director Vivian Tung confirmed.
In its advisory, NEA said 51 people reported having gastroenteritis symptoms after dining at the hotel restaurant on three occasions - Dec 21 and Dec 31 last year, as well as on Jan 11 this year.
"Following investigations, NEA has adjusted the restaurant’s food hygiene grade to 'C' effective from May 4, 2018, to be reviewed in 12 months, and will keep the premises under surveillance meanwhile," said the agency.
Ms Tung told Channel NewsAsia that on the two occasions in December, diners complained of "stomach discomfort" after eating oysters.
"All reported cases from diners shared that they only (obtained) outpatient medical treatment or self-medication," said Ms Tung.
She said that after receiving diners' feedback, Swissotel carried out investigations and switched oyster suppliers. "Since then, we have in fact not received any negative feedback," Ms Tung added.
Swissotel did not say if it had offered compensation to the affected diners, but told Channel NewsAsia it has "already been in individual discussions" with them.
Source: CNA/hs/(gs)
Â