A Singapore woman reportedly vomited after discovering a 4cm-long centipede in a packet of mixed rice, triggering a heated dispute with staff at a Bukit Batok food stall.
The incident happened on Sept. 24 after the woman’s family bought two packets of cai fan for about S$12 from a coffeeshop at Block 155 Bukit Batok Street 11. Her daughter was eating the meal when she spotted the black centipede among the food and became nauseous, according to the family’s account.
The woman’s mother, identified by her surname Lin, 60, later returned to the stall with her son-in-law and the food containing the insect. She said an argument broke out after a female employee allegedly told them that eating the centipede would not be fatal.
Lin challenged the employee to eat it herself if it was harmless. The employee disputed that account, saying she had not made that statement and that her comments were intended to suggest the woman’s vomiting may not have been caused by food poisoning.
The employee also said the stall could not confirm whether the centipede came from its food. However, she maintained that the business was willing to refund the purchase and offered the family several free dishes, which they did not accept.
She also said the family was offered compensation for medical expenses if the woman had become unwell and required treatment. Another employee said the stall would review its food-handling practices and take greater care during preparation.
The centipede was later shown to reporters and was reported to measure about 4cm in length. Lin said the family was more concerned about how the complaint was handled than the money involved and said they would not return to the stall.
The Singapore Food Agency is following up on the case. The agency said it would obtain further details from the person who lodged the complaint and would not rule out enforcement action if sufficient evidence is established. It also reminded food operators of their responsibility to maintain proper hygiene and food-handling practices.
The incident has renewed attention on the importance of food inspection and preparation practices, particularly when foreign objects or insects are discovered in ready-to-eat meals.
For the family involved, however, the experience has left them unwilling to return to the stall, while the food operator now faces scrutiny as authorities assess the complaint.
