11-8-2024 (SINGAPORE) The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has lifted the suspension on Pu Tien Services, one of the caterers implicated in the recent mass food poisoning outbreak at ByteDance’s One Raffles Quay office. The decision, announced in a joint statement by the Ministry of Health and SFA on Thursday, marks a significant development in the aftermath of an incident that affected 169 individuals.
Pu Tien Services, located at 2 Senoko South Road, had been under suspension since 31 July, alongside Yun Hai Yao, following reports of widespread gastroenteritis among ByteDance employees who had consumed food supplied by the two caterers. While Pu Tien has been cleared to resume operations, Yun Hai Yao, an eatery chain from China known locally as Yun Nans, remains suspended pending implementation of SFA-mandated measures.
The authorities reported that of the 17 individuals hospitalised during the incident, all have since been discharged. This update comes as a relief to many who had been monitoring the situation closely.
During its suspension, Pu Tien Services undertook comprehensive remedial actions as directed by the SFA. These measures included the disposal of all ready-to-eat, thawed, and perishable food items, as well as a thorough cleaning and sanitisation of the premises, equipment, and utensils. The company also conducted disinfection of food preparation surfaces, tables, and floors.
In a bid to reinforce food safety protocols, all food handlers at Pu Tien Services were required to retake and pass the Food Safety Course Level 1. Similarly, food hygiene officers working at the restaurant reattended and successfully completed the Workforce Skills Qualification Conduct Food and Beverage Hygiene Audit Course.
Pu Tien released a statement on Thursday, emphasising their full cooperation with regulators throughout the investigation process. The company revealed that, as part of its food safety protocols, it had retained samples from all food delivered to ByteDance’s office on 30 July. These samples were subsequently sent for independent third-party laboratory testing and analysis.
“The laboratory results confirmed that all the food samples met the food safety regulations established by SFA. The results also confirmed that both listeria and salmonella, bacteria known to cause food poisoning, were not detected in any of the samples,” Pu Tien stated, adding that these findings reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining high standards of food safety and quality.
Despite the lifting of the suspension, the SFA has announced that Pu Tien Services will remain under close monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance with food safety requirements. The agency is currently deliberating on the findings from the gastroenteritis outbreak investigation and has warned that it will not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators found in violation of the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations.
The potential penalties for breaching food hygiene regulations are substantial, with fines of up to S$2,000 for first-time offenders. Repeat offenders face fines of up to S$100 for each day the offence continues after conviction.
