‘What are these?’: Singapore man finds black thread-like objects in freshly squeezed orange juice

A Singaporean man encountered an unsettling discovery in a freshly squeezed orange juice he purchased from a vending machine, prompting alarm and prompting an investigation. On November 5, a 58-year-old man approached an iJooz vending machine situated outside Punggol Plaza with the intention of quenching his thirst. After consuming half a cup, he was startled to find black, unidentified threads in his drink.

The man, along with his family, frequently visited the vending machine, consistently relying on its juice offerings for refreshment. When he initially bought the juice, he promptly consumed the beverage and even shared half the cup with his wife. However, their attention was drawn to several black specks residing within the plastic seal at the top of the cup.

Upon opening the seal, they unveiled a plethora of black, minute, and thread-like objects ensconced within the juice, leaving them perplexed regarding their origin and inclusion in the product. Despite this alarming revelation, the man opted to purchase another cup approximately 20 minutes later, which appeared unblemished and undisturbed by the same anomaly.

Regrettably, he later encountered gastrointestinal distress, experiencing two episodes of diarrhea and feeling dizzy the following day. Concerned about potential health ramifications stemming from the consumption of the contaminated juice, he promptly notified the vending machine company. In response to the incident, the Food Bureau initiated an inquiry into the matter.

The authorities emphasized that "food safety is a shared responsibility of all parties. While the Food Bureau formulates and implements regulatory measures, food vending machine operators must also fulfil their responsibilities, comply with good food hygiene and food preparation practices, and ensure that the machines are clean and properly maintained."

Simultaneously, a separate incident surfaced where a 60-year-old man expressed disgust after discovering a small cockroach inside a steamed bun he consumed from a coffee and bread stall at a Singaporean hawker center.