This week, TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, faced a severe food poisoning outbreak at their Singapore office. On Tuesday, 60 staff members showed symptoms of gastroenteritis, and 57 of them had to be hospitalized.
Health and food safety officials in Singapore are investigating the incident to determine what caused the outbreak. It is suspected that a Chinese buffet, served at the ByteDance canteen in Singapore’s business district, might be the source. The food was prepared by a third-party caterer.
A ByteDance spokesperson emphasized their commitment to employee health and safety, 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. We are investigating the matter and are working with the relevant authorities on this.”
The Singapore Civil Defence Force acted quickly by dispatching 15 ambulances to the scene. Fire engines were also on standby to assist if needed.
In a joint statement, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Ministry of Health highlighted the importance of food safety practices. They warned that they would take strict enforcement action against any food operators found negligent in their duties.
This incident underscores the critical need for stringent food safety measures in corporate environments, especially when using third-party caterers. ByteDance continues to work closely with the authorities to ensure such incidents do not recur and to maintain the well-being of their employees.
