At least 60 people fall sick in suspected food poisoning incident at ByteDance office in One Raffles Quay
UPDATE (30 July, 11.20pm): A joint SFA and MOH statement has said that 60 people had developed gastroenteritis symptoms, 57 of whom had sought medical attention at hospitals.
SCDF also updated MS News that the number of people sent to hospital had increased to 47. All of them had consumed food from the same source, SCDF said. More below.
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Forty one people were sent to hospital earlier today (30 July) in a suspected food poisoning incident reportedly at the ByteDance office in One Raffles Quay.
In response to queries from MS News, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received multiple calls for medical assistance at One Raffles Quay on Tuesday (30 July) at about 3.15pm.
Source: Google Maps
It deployed 17 ambulances to the location.
41 people consumed food from the same source
There, 41 individuals were found to have symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting.
SCDF understood from them that they had consumed food from the same source earlier.
They were all conveyed to hospitals by SCDF.
All SCDF personnel and emergency vehicles have since returned to their respective fire stations and fire posts.
Suspected food poisoning reportedly at Bytedance office
The suspected food poisoning incident took place at the office of ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, two employees of the company told Channel NewsAsia (CNA).
Source: Google Maps
The company’s office is located in One Raffles Quay.
Photos shared by 8world News on Facebook showed a number of SCDF vehicles outside the building and a person being helped out.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
A first-aid point was also set up in the lobby of One Raffles Quay.
Source: 8world News on Facebook
ByteDance closes section of its canteen due to suspected food poisoning
CNA also quoted a company announcement from ByteDance as saying that its One Raffles Quay staff had fallen ill after a “recent visit to the L26 canteen”.
Ongoing medical support assistance is being offered to those affected. A temporary first-aid centre was set up on the 20th floor of the South Tower.
A ByteDance spokesperson said in a statement sent to MS News:
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.
MS News understands that the company engages licensed external vendors to cater food within its office premises. In Singapore, food is neither prepared nor cooked onsite at any of the company’s office premises.
In the meantime, a buffet section of the canteen has been closed till investigations are complete, CNA reported.
SFA & MOH investigating 60 gastroenteritis cases
In a joint statement sent to MS News, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of Health said they are investigating 60 cases of gastroenteritis at the ByteDance office in One Raffles Quay.
As of Tuesday (30 July), 57 of them had sought medical attention at hospitals.
They noted that food safety is a joint responsibility and food operators must adhere to good food safety practices, adding:
SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant food operators.
Also read: 165 SCDF personnel developed gastroenteritis within 2 days, SFA & MOH investigating
165 SCDF personnel developed gastroenteritis within 2 days, SFA & MOH investigating
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Featured image adapted from Google Maps.
