31-7-2024 (SINGAPORE) A significant food poisoning incident has struck the Singapore office of ByteDance, the parent company of popular social media platform TikTok, affecting at least 60 employees. The outbreak, which occurred on 30 July, has prompted an immediate response from local health authorities and emergency services.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of Health (MOH) confirmed they are investigating the suspected gastroenteritis cases at ByteDance’s One Raffles Quay office. In a joint statement, the agencies revealed that 57 of the 60 individuals who developed symptoms had sought medical attention at various hospitals across the city-state.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) reported receiving multiple distress calls around 3:15 pm, leading to the deployment of 17 ambulances to the scene. Affected individuals presented symptoms including abdominal pain and vomiting, with many requiring transport to Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and Raffles Hospital.
SCDF swiftly established a first-aid point at One Raffles Quay to assess and treat additional cases. The emergency response team remained on-site for several hours, with eyewitnesses reporting a significant presence of SCDF personnel, fire engines, and specialised vehicles well into the evening.
A ByteDance spokesperson addressed the incident, stating, “We take the health and safety of our employees very seriously and have taken immediate steps to support all affected employees, including working with emergency services to provide care.” The company has initiated an internal investigation and is cooperating fully with relevant authorities.
Sources close to the matter indicate that ByteDance utilises licensed external vendors for catering services within its office premises. This practice is now under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.
The SFA and MOH emphasised the shared responsibility of food safety, noting, “While SFA puts in place and enforces the regulatory measures, food operators must play their part by adhering to good food safety practices.”
This incident follows closely on the heels of another major food poisoning outbreak that affected 165 SCDF personnel at the Civil Defence Academy campus in Jalan Bahar on 23 and 24 July. The proximity of these two events has raised concerns about food safety standards in institutional catering services.
