Around 60 people fell ill after a major food poisoning incident at the office of TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, on July 30. - ST FILE
SINGAPORE: At least two food caterers are helping with investigations into what caused a mass food poisoning incident at the office of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance at One Raffles Quay.
Around 60 people fell ill on Tuesday (July 30). One of the caterers said its food was not responsible for the incident, but it was cooperating with agencies to find out what had happened.
Meanwhile, officers descended on the other caterer’s restaurant at Northpoint City in Yishun.
It had prepared food for ByteDance staff.
On July 30, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received multiple calls for help at One Raffles Quay at about 3.15pm.
It sent 17 ambulances, at least two fire engines and a mass decontamination vehicle there.
It also set up a first-aid point at the building’s lobby to make it convenient for victims to seek help.
SCDF said those affected experienced symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting.
Dozens were taken to Singapore General Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Raffles Hospital and National University Hospital.
Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao reported that Chinese cuisine restaurants Putien and Yun Nans were among those that had provided lunch on July 30.
On July 31, a Putien spokesperson told The Straits Times: “We understand that those affected with food poisoning symptoms did not consume the food catered by us.
“We are cooperating with the authorities and await the results of the investigations.”
Tommy Lu, chief executive of Yun Nans, told ST that its outlet at Northpoint City has been providing catered food to ByteDance for a month.
Speaking at the Northpoint City outlet, he said: “We’re waiting for the SFA (Singapore Food Agency) to investigate, but we’re not the only food supplier for ByteDance. We’re waiting for SFA to give us the green light to operate again (at Northpoint City).”
He did not give further details on the catering arrangements with ByteDance.
When ST arrived at Northpoint City at about 3.30pm on July 31, the Yun Nans restaurant was closed, but several employees were inside. A neighbouring store selling trinkets said it had been that way since about 11am.
On July 31, a ByteDance employee told ST that his colleague recounted the incident as “chaotic”, with several employees with food poisoning vomiting into dustbins when they could not make it to the toilet in time.
There was also vomit on the floor and a putrid smell in the office area, he said.
A cleaner, who was part of the cleanup crew, told ST that all the toilet cubicles and sinks the cleaner had been assigned to were dirty.
On July 30, food caterer and ground handler Sats said it provides halal food to ByteDance, and that there has been no report of food poisoning from the food it provided.
On the same day, SFA and the Ministry of Health said they were investigating the incident.
ST understands that ByteDance engages licensed external vendors to cater food within its office premises.
This is the second major food poisoning incident within a fortnight.
On July 23 and 24, a total of 165 SCDF personnel fell sick at the Civil Defence Academy campus in Jalan Bahar.
SCDF said those affected experienced mild gastroenteritis, abdominal discomfort and diarrhoea.
The worst food poisoning incident here was in April 2009 when two people died and more than 150 people fell ill after eating contaminated Indian rojak at the temporary Geylang Serai Market. More than 40 people were hospitalised, and one woman suffered a miscarriage.
Health officers found the premises infested with cockroaches.
Bacteria usually present in human faeces and human skin, and traces of salmonella commonly associated with food poisoning, were found on the chopping board and refrigerator used to cut and store food.
In May 2010, the stall owner was fined $9,000 and lost his licence.
In another case, in November 2018, a Sats officer died after consuming food from Spize’s River Valley branch.
He was one of 72 people who became sick after eating from bento boxes prepared by the restaurant for a Deepavali celebration. More than 40 people were hospitalised.
Food caterer Spize and its related company Spize Events were fined $32,000 in December 2020.
Salmonella was found on the surfaces of a kitchen the two companies shared, and in some of its ready-to-eat food. Faecal matter was also detected in the ready-to-eat food and kitchen tools.
Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pains and mild fever are common symptoms of food poisoning due to bacteria ingested from unsanitary food handling.
Dr Benjamin Yip, consultant gastroenterologist and medical director of Alpha Digestive and Liver Centre, said bacterial toxins can attack the digestive tract very quickly.
Symptoms can occur in as little as one to two hours after the food is consumed, to as long as days, to even a week.
He added: “If not treated early, there are factors in the bacteria that can enhance the infective capabilities that make the infection more severe.”
Dr Aaron Poh, consultant colorectal surgeon and medical director of Alpine Surgical Practice, said the combination of how viral the bacteria is, how much bacteria was ingested, and the patient’s immunity would determine the patient’s vulnerability to food poisoning.
On when food poisoning can be deadly, he said: “The most common issue is dehydration that leads to renal failure, when you don’t produce urine, cannot keep food down, or become so lethargic that you lose consciousness.”
ST has contacted SFA for more information. - The Straits Times/ANN
