A woman was left disgusted after allegedly discovering a dead gecko in her fried rice after taking just a few bites at a popular eatery in Singapore.
According to Singapore news outlet MustShareNews, the incident occurred at around 4.51pm on June 28 at a WOK HEY outlet located in Tampines 1 shopping mall.
The woman had ordered a chicken egg fried rice priced at S$7.30 (approximately RM23). However, after eating three spoonfuls, she was shocked to find what appeared to be a dead gecko mixed in with the rice.
She immediately threw the meal away and alerted the restaurant staff about the incident.
Following the complaint, WOK HEY reportedly offered her two complimentary meals as compensation. The woman declined the offer and instead lodged a report with the Singapore Food Agency (SFA).
Responding to media queries, the SFA confirmed it is aware of the incident and has launched an investigation. The agency said investigators may contact the complainant to obtain further information and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence of any food safety breach is found.
The SFA also stressed that ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility between regulators and food operators, with businesses expected to strictly comply with proper food hygiene and food handling standards.
In a statement, WOK HEY said the customer only informed the company about the incident the following day, after which it immediately began an internal investigation, including reviewing CCTV footage, inspecting the outlet and examining its food preparation procedures.
Based on its preliminary findings, the company said the fried rice was freshly prepared on-site and was served in accordance with its food safety protocols.
The company also said a report from its pest control contractor found no evidence of gecko activity at the outlet, while its initial investigation suggested the gecko did not originate from the restaurant.
As an immediate gesture, WOK HEY processed a full refund for the customer on June 29 and said it has remained in contact with her as investigations into the incident continue.
