ByteDance Staff Experience Hospitalised After Eating Catering Food

The restaurant chain Yun Hai Yao has been formally charged in court in connection with a mass food poisoning incident at the ByteDance Singapore office on July 30, 2024.

Investigations by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) determined that the outbreak was caused by food supplied by two external vendors: Yun Hai Yao and Pu Tien Services.

According to the Ministry of Health, a total of 169 individuals suffered from gastroenteritis after consuming the catered meals and 47 were taken to the hospital on the day of the incident.

Singapore Health Authorities Tracks Source To Food Vendors

Yun Hai Yao faces two charges under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations and the Sale of Food Act, as reported by The Straits Times.

A prosecutor for the SFA stated that the agency is seeking a total fine of S$5,000 for both offences.

Court documents reveal that a wok-fried diced chicken dish provided by Yun Hai Yao to the ByteDance office on the day of the incident allegedly contained a bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus.

This bacteria can contaminate food during either the preparation or handling phase, and is the common contaminant leading to food poisoning.

And it turns out that Yun Hai Yao, a major Chinese eatery chain operating the Yun Nans restaurants in Singapore weren't keeping up with the hygiene standards either.

The day after the food poisoning incident, more than 10 live cockroaches were discovered at the company’s Northpoint City outlet.

According to CNA, the cockroaches were found under a folded grey plastic mat behind a rack, highlighting further lapses in food safety and hygiene standards.

Yun Hai Yao Pleads Guilty As It Awaits punishment

The Straits Times reported that Yun Hai Yao’s chief executive, Lu Zhi Tao, appeared in court on behalf of the company.

He indicated that the company intends to plead guilty and will not be engaging legal representation.

The next court mention has been scheduled for July 2, when further legal proceedings will take place.