SINGAPORE — A large rat was caught at a Subway outlet in 313@Somerset, prompting concern among customers after a video showing the live rodent being carried away in a plastic bag went viral online.
The incident took place on Oct. 5 at around 2.30pm, according to a passer-by who witnessed the scene. A video of the rat was subsequently posted on TikTok on Oct. 6 and had attracted more than 67,000 views at the time of reporting.
The Subway outlet is located on Level B3 of 313@Somerset, the shopping mall along Orchard Road.
Customers spot large rat near outlet
The woman who filmed the incident, identified as Hazi, told AsiaOne that she had been queuing for BigBang merchandise elsewhere in the mall before heading to Subway for lunch.
Instead, she noticed two women standing outside the outlet and appearing frightened.
She then saw a man carrying a white plastic bag containing a live rat. The rodent could be seen moving inside the bag and attempting to climb out as the man carried it away.
Hazi told Stomp that a cleaner appeared to be looking for something around the area before a worker arrived and caught the rodent.
According to her account, the worker then indicated to customers that the rat had been caught and that they could resume sitting in the area.
The sight nevertheless left her uncomfortable enough to abandon her plans to eat at the outlet.
“I was flabbergasted,” she told Stomp, saying she had visited the outlet before but had never encountered a rat there.
‘Ratatouille wants bread’
The TikTok video quickly attracted attention, with the creator joking that “Ratatouille wants bread for lunch too”, referencing Pixar’s animated film Ratatouille, in which a rat dreams of becoming a chef.
The joke contrasted sharply with the reaction of customers who witnessed the real-life rodent inside or around the food outlet.
Some online commenters praised the man who caught the rat, with several describing him as a “hero” for stepping in to deal with the animal.
Others were more concerned about the possibility of additional rodents in the area and questioned whether the premises had been properly checked and cleaned.
Hazi said she ultimately chose to have lunch at another restaurant.
Food agency investigating
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said it is looking into the incident.
In response to queries from AsiaOne and Stomp, the agency said it may engage the person who provided the feedback to obtain more information as part of its investigation.
SFA also reminded food operators of their responsibility to maintain good hygiene and keep their premises clean and well maintained.
Enforcement action may be taken if there is sufficient evidence of breaches of food-safety requirements.
Subway was contacted by Stomp for comment.
At the time of reporting, there was no public indication that the rat had contaminated food or that customers had become ill as a result of the incident.
What authorities advise when rats are spotted
Singapore’s National Environment Agency advises members of the public not to attempt to catch or handle rats themselves.
Instead, residents can report rat sightings through the OneService app and take steps to reduce conditions that attract rodents, such as exposed food waste, rubbish and clutter.
The advice is particularly relevant in food-and-beverage environments, where proper waste management and pest control are important parts of maintaining hygiene.
The presence of one rat also does not, by itself, establish that an outlet has a wider infestation. Whether there were other rodents at the 313@Somerset outlet is something that would need to be determined through inspection.
A viral moment with a serious food-safety question
The unusual sight has generated plenty of jokes online, but the incident also raises a more serious question about pest control in busy food outlets.
For the customers who witnessed the rat, the issue was not simply how large the animal appeared, but whether the outlet had adequate measures in place to prevent rodents from entering in the first place.
The SFA’s investigation should help determine whether any food-safety or hygiene requirements were breached.
For now, the viral image of a giant rat being carried out of a Subway in one of Singapore’s busiest shopping districts has provided plenty of internet humour — but for diners who were there, it was a reminder that even a familiar lunch stop can produce an unexpected encounter.
And unlike Pixar’s Ratatouille, this was one kitchen visitor most customers were happy to see leave.
