Singapore: food temperature rules

“Law” is a binding rule. “Official guidance” is not law, but inspectors expect it. “Chef Hygiene default” is a value the app checks against where no rule gives a number.

• LawEvery chiller and freezer has a working thermometer. Chilled fresh meat, thawed meat and fish to be eaten raw are kept at 0 to 4°C; dairy and other products labelled to keep chilled at 7°C or colder (Food Hygiene Regulations, reg 12 and the Schedule).
• LawFrozen meat at −12°C or colder and ice cream at −2°C or colder (the Schedule). Frozen meat is thawed only in a chiller at 0 to 4°C, labelled, used within 3 days and never refrozen. Chef Hygiene aims for −18°C or colder in freezers as good practice, not the law.
• Official guidanceSFA's advice: keep cooked food in the fridge at 4°C or colder, cook to at least 75°C for 2 minutes in the centre, keep hot food above 60°C, chill hot food to below 5°C within 4 hours, and reheat only once, to at least 75°C for 2 minutes.
• LawReady-to-eat food should not stay between 5°C and 60°C for more than 4 hours in all (SFA's advice for everyone). For caterers this is the law, with every catered meal labelled "FOOD READY-TO-EAT ON ... CONSUME BY ..." (reg 13A and 13B).
• Chef Hygiene defaultChef Hygiene asks for fridge checks at opening and closing. That is our choice: the law asks for a working thermometer, not a set number of checks.