Second Singapore restaurant under fire for using arcade claw machine on live lobsters
- The seafood outlet, which initially used the machine on live animals, says it does not let customers play with the mechanical claw function
- This comes after the use of a claw machine on live crabs at another restaurant, House of Seafood, sparked a public outcry
However, it was soon told by the then Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority to stop the practice as it was cruel to the animals.
Sea Tripod Seafood Group, whose sole restaurant is its Jurong outlet, says it now uses the machine as a tank for displaying lobsters and does not let customers play with the mechanical claw function.
The restaurant’s manager, who wanted to be known only as Li, said the machine was bought from China for S$3,000 (US$2,201).
“We do not want to offend any people or break any laws. If we receive any complaints from government officials, we’ll definitely take more action but for now we do not play, we just display,” he said.
When The Straits Times visited the eatery on Saturday, the machine was found in the outdoor seating area with three live lobsters in it.