One of two catering companies involved in a significant food poisoning event at ByteDance’s Singapore office has been formally charged in court, according to Channel News Asia. The incident, which occurred in July 2024, affected 130 employees and resulted in 57 hospitalizations.
The mass food poisoning took place on July 30, 2024, at ByteDance’s office located at One Raffles Quay. Staff members who became ill had eaten at a cafeteria on the building’s 26th floor. ByteDance contracts licensed external vendors to provide catering services for its offices.
Yunhaiyao, which operates the Yun Nans restaurant chain, appeared in court on June 4 facing two charges. The first charge falls under the Environmental Public Health Food Hygiene Regulations, while the second relates to the Sale of Food Act.
According to court documents, Yunhaiyao allegedly sold food that did not meet ByteDance’s quality standards on July 30, 2024. Specifically, the company sold wok-fried diced chicken containing harmful bacteria identified as coagulase-positive staphylococcus aureus with staphylococcus enterotoxin A genes, which can cause food poisoning.
The second charge involves allegations that Yunhaiyao failed to maintain pest-free premises at its Northpoint City location. On July 31, 2024, authorities reportedly discovered more than 10 live cockroaches under a folded grey plastic mat behind a rack during food preparation operations.
The company has indicated its intention to plead guilty to both charges. The next court hearing is scheduled for July 2, with prosecutors seeking fines of S$3,500 and S$1,500 for the respective charges.
Following the incident, Singapore’s health authorities immediately suspended operations at both Yunhaiyao and Pu Tien Services, the second caterer involved. Pu Tien Services operates the central and catering kitchen for Putien restaurant chain from its Senoko South Road facility.
The Singapore Food Agency described the ByteDance incident as one of the more serious food poisoning cases in recent years. Their investigation confirmed that catered food was the source of the illnesses affecting the employees.
Both catering companies were required to dispose of all prepared food and implement comprehensive remedial measures. The SFA lifted Pu Tien’s suspension on August 10, followed by Yunhaiyao’s suspension lift on August 16, after both companies met compliance requirements.
The remedial actions included thorough cleaning and sanitization of premises, equipment, and utensils, along with disinfection of food preparation surfaces, tables, and floors. All food handlers were required to retake and pass food safety courses, while food hygiene officers completed Workforce Skills Qualifications courses on food and beverage hygiene audits.
The SFA announced in November that enforcement action would be taken against parties responsible for food safety violations. The agency has not yet disclosed whether any action will be taken against Pu Tien Services.
Under Singapore’s food safety regulations, violations can result in fines up to S$2,000 for hygiene breaches, with additional daily fines of S$100 for continuing offenses. Selling substandard food carries penalties up to S$5,000 for first-time convictions.
