A surprising sight alarmed residents when a rat was spotted inside a vending machine stocked with bread products. The rodent, unable to escape, was fi
A surprising sight alarmed residents when a rat was spotted inside a vending machine stocked with bread products. The rodent, unable to escape, was filmed scampering through the machine, climbing rows of bread and attempting to flee via the collection area.
The minute-long video, initially posted on TikTok on 4 December and later shared on Instagram, quickly drew attention to the issue of food safety. Concerned viewers questioned accountability for potential health risks. “If someone gets sick after consuming contaminated food, who’s responsible—the food brand or the vending machine owner?” one commenter asked.
Another viewer called for the incident to be reported to the relevant authorities.
Responding to media inquiries, Gardenia, the local baked goods company, confirmed on 12 December that it was aware of the incident. An internal investigation traced the vending machine to Fernwood Towers, a condominium in Marine Parade.
Gardenia assured the public that it had immediately discarded all products from the machine and conducted an extensive disinfection process to eliminate contamination risks. The machine was left to air out for three days before undergoing a second round of cleaning and being restocked with fresh products.
To prevent similar incidents in the future, the company has fitted the vending machine with a protective casing designed to deter pests. “We take food safety very seriously and have implemented these measures to ensure the quality of our products and the trust of our customers,” a Gardenia spokesperson stated.
This incident has reignited public discussion on food safety in automated retail systems, prompting calls for stricter pest control measures in vending machines across the region.
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