A significant number of employees at the Singapore office of ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, were hospitalized due to a suspected foodborne illness outbreak.
Health and food safety officials in the city-state are currently investigating the incident which led to 60 individuals experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis, with 57 of them requiring hospital treatment.
ByteDance has also expressed its commitment to identifying the cause of the illness among its employees.
A spokesperson from ByteDance emphasized the company's prioritization of employee health and safety, confirming that immediate measures have been taken to support affected employees, including collaborating with emergency services to ensure proper care.
The spokesperson further stated that ByteDance is actively cooperating with relevant authorities in the ongoing investigation.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force dispatched 15 ambulances to the location, with additional fire engines placed on standby, according to local news outlet Lianhe Zaobao. Reports from Lianhe Zaobao revealed that the outbreak was associated with a Chinese buffet served at ByteDance’s canteen in Singapore’s business district on Tuesday afternoon. It was noted that the food served at ByteDance is prepared by third-party caterers.
In response to the incident, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the Ministry of Health underscored the importance of food operators adhering to robust food safety practices. Both entities stated that the SFA is prepared to take enforcement action against any food operators found to be in violation of these practices.