https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bytedance-office-food-poisoning-police-scdf-4513966
SINGAPORE: Forty-one people were taken to hospital on Tuesday (Jul 30) after a suspected food poisoning incident at the office of TikTok owner ByteDance at One Raffles Quay.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) deployed 17 ambulances to the scene in response to the incident.
In a company announcement to employees seen by CNA, ByteDance said it was aware that its employees at its One Raffles Quay office had become ill after "their recent visit to the L26 canteen".
A buffet section at the canteen is "closed until investigations are complete", the company said.
"We are taking this incident very seriously and are working closely with local authorities and caterers to identify the cause as soon as possible," it added.
CNA understands that ByteDance engages licensed external vendors to cater food for its offices, and that food is not prepared or cooked at its office premises in Singapore.
The announcement said there is "ongoing medical support assistance" being offered to those affected by the incident, with a temporary first aid centre set up at the lift lobby on the 20th floor of the building's South Tower.
An ambulance stationed outside ByteDance's office at One Raffles Quay on Jul 30, 2024. (Photo: CNA reader)
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) told CNA that it received multiple calls for medical assistance at One Raffles Quay at 3.15pm on Tuesday.
SCDF initially said 15 ambulances were deployed to the scene, and 30 people who experienced symptoms of abdominal pain and vomiting had been conveyed to hospitals.
It later revised the number of ambulances deployed to 17 and updated the number of people taken to hospital to 41.
"The SCDF understands from the 41 persons that they had earlier consumed food from the same source," it said.
In its initial statement at 7.32pm, SCDF described the incident as "still ongoing". In its update at 8.15pm, it said that all its personnel and emergency vehicles had returned to their respective fire stations and fire posts.
An ambulance stationed outside ByteDance's office at One Raffles Quay on Jul 30, 2024. (Photo: CNA reader)
A Singapore Civil Defence Force Mass Decontamination Vehicle is seen outside the ByteDance office at One Raffles Quay on Jul 30, 2024 after a suspected mass food poisoning incident sent dozens to the hospital. (Photo: CNA reader) …see more
In response to queries from CNA, a ByteDance spokesperson said: "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."
CNA has reached out to the Ministry of Health and the Singapore Food Agency for comment.