Food Hygiene

EHI’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Research Programme focuses on three main areas of food hygiene research, namely: food microbiology, food hygiene risk assessment & mitigation, and applied food hygiene epidemiology.

The programme aims to search, develop, optimise and evaluate various tools and assays for the screening, detection, identification and characterisation of food-borne pathogens in food.

EHI actively seeks to identify risk points in food preparation processes where microbial contamination or growth is likely to occur. Food surveillance data are analysed by the programme to identify high-risk ready-to-eat food items. Risk assessment findings and mitigation measures are translated into educational materials for food handlers, and used to guide the formulation of guidelines and policies.                                                     

The programme also aims to understand the epidemiology of food-borne diseases in Singapore, and apply epidemiological knowledge to address local retail food hygiene issues. This is done through collaborative work with universities and hospitals to acquire knowledge and data on the characteristics, causes and effects of local food-borne diseases. Molecular epidemiology tools are also used to establish linkages between food-borne pathogens isolated from local food, environmental and clinical samples, as well as to trace the source of microbiological contamination of food.

Environmental Hygiene

The institute carries out risk assessment, field surveys and mitigation research on issues pertaining to indoor air quality, fungus infestation and water-borne Legionella contamination in Singapore. This entails the investigation of public feedback and providing advisories for improvement of indoor environmental quality.

Findings from our work help to guide development of the Code of Practices that aims to minimise occurrence of sick building syndrome (SBS) as well as Legionnaires’ disease.

The institute actively seeks to improve public and industry awareness on good environmental hygiene practices, through various public outreach programmes.

Some information on maintaining good indoor environmental quality:

i)      Choosing the right air cleaner (Breathe Healthily - The Consumer CASE Magazine)



A list of CADR rated portable air cleaners and suppliers can also be found here.  

ii)     Use of green-labelled interior building products (Feeling Sick After a Renovation?  - The Consumer CASE Magazine)

A list of suppliers with green-labelled products can also be found at http://www.sgls.sec.org.sg/ & http://www1.sgbc.sg/green-certifications/product-certification/