SFA Orders Recall of Fish Burger Patty As Egg Allergen Isn’t Declared on Packaging

For fans of budget-friendly filet-o-fish, there’s a new food recall to take note of: the Fish Burger Ikan Sultan (650g) by manufacturer Tenderfresh Fried & BBQ Chicken Pte Ltd.

Last night, 25 September, at 11.45 pm, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) recalled a brand of fish burgers after a routine check found traces of egg in the product. 

If you’re wondering why that would be such a big deal, here’s why. 

The issue wasn’t that it contained eggs, but that eggs weren’t mentioned anywhere on the packaging or the ingredient list. 

Eggs are one of the eight common food allergens, and under the Singapore Food Regulations, their presence must be declared on food packaging labels to protect consumers with food allergies. 

Allergens are substances that, even in small amounts, can cause your body’s immune system to mistake them for threats. This overreaction is an allergic reaction and can happen to anyone, even infants and toddlers. 

According to the SFA, food allergies can range from minor symptoms like itching to severe reactions like chest pain: 

• Skin rash, itching, hives
• Swelling of eyes, red eyes or itchy and/or watery eyes
• Tingling or itching in the mouth
• Swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty swallowing
• Shortness of breath, trouble breathing, wheezing
• Dizzy and lightheaded
• Stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea
• Chest pain
• Anaphylactic shock

What Should Consumers Do?

If you’ve already bought this product and have an egg allergy or intolerance, SFA advises against eating it. Those who have already consumed the product should check in with their doctor if they feel any allergy symptoms coming on. 

SFA has also asked the public to go straight to their retailers (where they bought the product from) for any further questions and concerns.

Meanwhile, the recall is still in progress.

Tenderfresh Fried & BBQ Chicken Pte Ltd has been instructed to ensure that all warehouses dispose of any Fish Burger Ikan Sultan (650g) packages they have stored, while retailers will be removing them from their shelves and online platforms. 

From spicy instant noodles to sake and now fish patties, it’s been quite the year for food recalls. What’s next?