Buffet restaurant Family Mookata to ban diners caught packing extra food to take away

“Once one diner does it, it sets a precedent. Even if everyone takes only a little, it adds up quickly for small businesses like ours,” said a spokesperson from Family Mookata.

Concerned about negative or aggressive reactions, staff have also been reluctant to confront offenders directly. In one incident, a customer raised her voice, accusing the business of being petty and saying that “this is not how you run a business”.

Family Mookata added that manpower constraints, especially during peak hours, have made enforcement difficult, as offenders might have already left by the time staff were alerted.

Offenders were often seen bringing their own takeaway boxes, suggesting they came intending to take food home. 

In one case, a diner said she wanted the food to feed stray cats, while another said she wanted it for her next meal.

According to the business, customers who take food away often justify their actions by citing food wastage, arguing that uneaten food would otherwise be thrown away.

In response, Family Mookata said it had earlier introduced a sign warning of a food wastage charge of S$10 per 100g. However, the measure has had “little impact”, the business said.

“Our buffet is self-service, and we hope that customers can trust that the food will be replenished by our staff when needed,” said the spokesperson from Family Mookata. “There’s no need to take excessive amounts at one go.”

Family Mookata said it operates on trust as a small business, with some rules such as dine-in time limits often relaxed for customers.

“We just want customers to enjoy the food at our outlets, with mutual understanding and without taking advantage of our small business.”