31-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) A severe outbreak of food poisoning at the Singapore office of ByteDance, the parent company of social media giant TikTok, has resulted in the suspension of two prominent caterers. The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, 30 July, has left health authorities scrambling to investigate the cause and ensure public safety.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) have taken swift action, suspending the food business operations of Yun Hai Yao at Northpoint City and Pu Tien Services at Senoko South Road until further notice. Yun Hai Yao operates the popular Yun Nans restaurant chain, while Pu Tien Services serves as the central kitchen for Putien restaurants.
The scale of the incident is alarming, with 130 individuals reporting gastroenteritis symptoms. Of these, 57 required hospitalisation on Tuesday, with 17 still receiving inpatient care, though in stable condition. The remaining affected individuals have either sought outpatient treatment, self-medicated, or recovered without intervention.
In response to the outbreak, Yun Hai Yao issued a statement to Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao, expressing their commitment to working with other suppliers to assist those affected. They emphasised their dedication to food safety regulations and hygiene guidelines, stating, “customer health and safety remain our top considerations.”
Putien, on the other hand, maintains that those who fell ill did not consume food catered by their establishment. Both companies are cooperating with authorities as investigations continue.
The health authorities have mandated stringent measures for both caterers. These include thorough cleaning and sanitisation of premises, equipment, and utensils, as well as the disposal of all ready-to-eat and perishable food items. Additionally, all food handlers must retake and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1 and test negative for foodborne pathogens before resuming work.
ByteDance employees described a chaotic scene at the office. Symptoms began manifesting around 3 pm, with staff members vomiting and experiencing severe discomfort. One employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, recounted, “Every single floor had people vomiting, which was quite gross.”
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) responded to multiple calls for medical assistance, deploying 17 ambulances to the scene. Eyewitnesses described seeing affected individuals lying on the floor in pain, awaiting medical attention.
ByteDance has taken the incident seriously, closing a buffet section at the canteen pending investigation results. In a company announcement, they stated, “We are taking this incident very seriously and are working closely with local authorities and caterers to identify the cause as soon as possible.”
