60 people ill after mass food poisoning at ByteDance office in One Raffles Quay, authorities investigating

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.

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).

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.

A first-aid point was also set up in the lobby of One Raffles Quay.

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.

The company is taking the incident “very seriously” and is working closely with the local authorities and caterers to identify the cause.

In the meantime, a buffet section of the canteen has been closed till investigations are complete.

ByteDance engages external vendors to cater food at its offices, it is understood.

SFA & MOH investigating 60 gastroenteritis cases

In a joint statement, the Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health said they are investigating 60 cases of gastroenteritis at the ByteDance office.

57 of them have sought medical attention at hospitals, CNA quoted the statement as saying.

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.

MS News has reached out to SFA for more information about the incident.

Also read: 165 SCDF personnel developed gastroenteritis within 2 days, SFA & MOH investigating

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