PRIMADELI'S ovens remain cold, despite the famous bakery's hopes to reopen by today.
The chain, which was hit by a food poisoning scandal earlier this month, recently completed the cleaning and disinfection of its Keppel Road manufacturing centre, The Straits Times understands.
However, the factory and its 39 retail outlets remain closed until it gets the green light from the authorities to begin baking again.
Prima's management said that it is working closely with the Health Ministry and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to make sure it passes muster in terms of staff health and food safety.
Prima's management has asked AVA officers to inspect the factory next Monday.
Microbiological swabs will be taken from table tops, utensils, racks and trays to see if the factory is clean.
The swabs will be tested for bacteria like salmonella, which infected more than 150 people who ate cakes from the deli.
According to a spokesman for the National Environment Agency, PrimaDeli's 39 franchises were inspected in the early days of the outbreak and no hygiene lapses were discovered.
The agency also confirmed that follow-up checks will be conducted on the outlets once their doors are reopened.
Tests by the authorities uncovered eight infected workers. They also found that two ingredients - hazelnut paste and chocolate cream - and cake samples were tainted with the salmonella bacteria.
An AVA spokesman said the company must meet the organisation's strict hygiene rules before it will be allowed to reopen. The AVA will also review the way Prima handles food.
Meanwhile, negotiations are underway between parent company PrimaDeli and its franchisees on compensation for lost business.
The outlets have been closed since last Wednesday - the peak Christmas season. The eventual figure will depend on how long they stay shut, according to Prima's management.
PrimaDeli outlets have been mostly empty, except for a few managers and employees who have returned occasionally to do housekeeping.
A manager of PrimaDeli at Bedok North, who wanted to be known only as Mr Tay, was in the shop on Monday as he 'had paper work to do'.
More than 100 people who were felled by food poisoning have called Prima's hotline, seeking compensation. The hotline, 6277-7171, is still open.
