TikTok employees at the Singapore office were hit by a case of food poisoning, resulting in approximately 60 individuals being affected and 57 of them being hospitalized.
ByteDance, the parent company, has initiated an internal investigation into the mass food poisoning incident that resulted in 17 ambulances being deployed to transport individuals to the hospital.
A statement was released by a spokesperson from ByteDance stating that the company places great importance on the well-being and safety of its employees and has implemented swift measures to assist those who have been impacted.
“We are conducting an investigation and collaborating with the appropriate authorities regarding this issue.”
Initially, it was stated that 41 individuals were affected by the incident. However, the number seems to have been updated according to reports since then.
According to South China Morning Post, as a precautionary measure, ByteDance has shut down their office buffet. In an official statement to employees, the owners of TikTok stated that they are treating this incident with utmost seriousness and are collaborating with local authorities and caterers to determine the root cause at the earliest.
ByteDance is providing continuous medical assistance for individuals in need as well.
According to The Straits Times, the Singapore Food Agency and Ministry of Health are both conducting investigations into the matter.
Both government branches released a joint statement emphasizing that food safety is a shared responsibility. The SFA is responsible for implementing and enforcing regulatory measures, while food operators must fulfill their role by following proper food safety protocols.
The Straits Times also highlights that not all staff members were aware of the incident. In fact, one staff member believed it could potentially lead to a fire.
However, this marks the second time in a week that Singapore has experienced a significant food poisoning outbreak. Between July 23 and 24, a total of 165 SCDF personnel fell ill from the same illness. Fortunately, none of the officers required hospitalization.
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