Home-Based Fried chicken Business Faces Hygiene Concerns After Hair Found in Order
A Singapore-based home-based food business, Chef fyan, is under scrutiny following a customer complaint of finding hair in their fried chicken order, reigniting concerns about hygiene practices at the operation. The incident, documented on New Year’s day, adds to previous allegations surfacing last October regarding the business owner’s food handling procedures.
Last October, online users shared videos and photos reportedly showing Mr. sofyan handling cooked chicken with his bare hands, prompting initial public concern.
The latest incident came to light through a TikTok video posted by user @naivanderwaal on January 1st, quickly amassing over 87,100 views. the video depicts a customer discovering strands of hair in her meal. A diner is heard exclaiming, “There’s hair,” to which the woman receiving the food responds with disbelief, asking, “From where? What is this?” She continued to eat the food, noting it was “very dry” after discovering a second strand.
Business Response and Regulatory Landscape
Responding to inquiries, Mr. Sofyan stated he now utilizes masks, gloves, and an apron during food preparation and maintains thorough handwashing practices. He also asserted that he does not possess a food safety certification, deeming it “not necessary.” He further claimed this is the first hygiene-related complaint received in over 800 orders.
“I have zero hygiene related complaints before this. This is the first in over 800 orders,” Mr. Sofyan told Stomp. He also downplayed previous concerns,stating they originated from the general public rather than paying customers.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) conducted an inspection of Mr. Sofyan’s residence on December 3rd following the initial public concerns, but reported finding “nothing wrong” with the business’s operations.Mr. Sofyan expressed hope that consumers woudl not rely solely on online reviews, advocating for personal experience: “I hope the netizens out there don’t believe in food reviews 100 per cent. They should order for themselves before giving a judgement.”
According to the SFA’s website, home-based food businesses in Singapore are not required to obtain an SFA licence, but are still legally obligated to adhere to food safety standards.
Calls for Increased Oversight
The incidents have sparked calls for stricter regulation of the growing home-based food business sector. Former F&B operator Khoo Keat Hwee, 39, voiced his concerns, stating, “It just feels like the authorities don’t care anymore.” He highlighted the increasing scale of some home-based operations, with some catering to 50 to 100 customers. “Home-based businesses are said to operate on a smaller scale.But nowadays it’s becoming big. A lot of things are not fair for ‘legitimate’ businesses,” he said.However, he also acknowledged the economic realities driving the growth of these businesses, adding, “But at the end of the day, people are out there fighting for themselves in order to survive. Home-based businesses also want to make a living.”
Public Reaction
The latest incident elicited strong reactions online. Social media users commenting on @naivanderwaal’s post expressed disgust, with one user stating, “If I found hair in my food I couldn’t bring myself to swallow anything from the plate anymore! It’s so purely gross.” Others joked about the situation, while some were surprisingly unfazed. One commenter noted, “It happens even in your local or fav cafes and kopitiam. We all die anyways, as long as the food is warm and good, I’d still eat it.”
Mr. Sofyan addressed the recent complaint in a TikTok post on January 2nd, asserting it was not representative of his usual standards. He stated, “food safety is enforced through standards and corrective action, not public mockery,” and received largely supportive comments.
Stomp has reached out to both @naivanderwaal and the SFA for further facts regarding the incident and potential regulatory changes.
