Singapore gives green light for pork blood products after almost three decades
CP Foods says it will bring pasteurised pork blood curd to Singapore in "one to two months".
· CNA · JoinRead a summary of this article on FAST.
Get bite-sized news via a new
cards interface. Give it a try.
Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST
FAST
SINGAPORE: Lovers of pork blood rejoice, as the delicacy will soon hit the shelves in Singapore after a 27-year absence.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) announced on Wednesday (Apr 1) that it had approved the import of heat-treated pork blood products from an accredited establishment, the Bangkhla Pig Slaughterhouse in Thailand.
The agency said the pig blood products from the company will be allowed for import following food safety assessments.
"Each consignment must be accompanied by an official health certificate issued by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) for Thailand, certifying that the import complies with Singapore's animal health and food safety requirements," SFA said.
CNA Games
Guess Word
Crack the word, one row at a time
Buzzword
Create words using the given letters
Mini Sudoku
Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser
Mini Crossword
Small grid, big challenge
Word Search
Spot as many words as you can
Show More
Show Less
The agency also reminded traders that pork and pork products can only be imported from SFA-approved sources.
Food manufacturer CP Foods said on Wednesday it will bring pork blood curd to Singapore in "another one to two months".
"CP Foods has been selling packaged pig blood curd in Thailand for many years. The pig's blood undergoes high-temperature treatment and pasteurisation, and the packaging is similar to the boxed tofu commonly found in Singapore," said a CP Foods Singapore spokesperson.
Animal blood food products, including pork blood and duck blood, have been banned in Singapore since 1999.
In 2022, a woman was fined S$8,000 for possessing and selling illegally imported pig blood curd.
WHY WAS IT BANNED?
The Nipah virus outbreak in 1999 triggered the prohibition of animal blood food products, with the then Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority banning the collection of pig blood from Singapore's local abattoir.
This was because blood was a potential source and mode of transmission for viruses and other food-borne pathogens.
SFA had said in 2021 that blood products are prohibited as they can "easily support the growth of bacteria and harbour diseases".
CNA has reached out to SFA for more information.
Sign up for our newsletters
Get our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inbox
Get the CNA app
Stay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best stories
Get WhatsApp alerts
Join our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat app