Caterer involved in ByteDance food poisoning case fined $7k: Cockroach infestation, dirty tools found
Catering company Yunhaiyao has been fined $7,000 for multiple food safety lapses over a mass food poisoning incident at Bytedance last year, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said in a statement.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and SFA received reports that 171 individuals had fallen ill after consuming food from the caterer. Of these, 60 required hospitalisation.
The remaining 28 received outpatient treatment or self-medicated.
A joint inspection by MOH and SFA at Yunhaiyao's premises in Northpoint City uncovered several hygiene issues, including cockroach infestation, dirty racks, and unclean food preparation tools.
A food sample collected from the outlet also failed SFA's food safety tests.
According to The Straits Times, the victims suffered abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting after consuming wok-fried diced chicken prepared by Yunhaiyao.
The dish was found to contain over 200,000 colony-forming units (CFUs) per gram of Staphylococcus aureus, a type of pathogen. This is more than 2,000 times the acceptable level of less than 100 CFUs per gram.
In the interest of public health, SFA directed the licensee to suspend their operations from July 31, 2024 to Aug 16, 2024 to rectify the lapses and to take the necessary measures to improve the food safety practices and cleanliness of the premises.
SFA said all food operators should ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained, as well as adhere to proper food hygiene and food safety requirements.
The agency added that it would not hesitate to take enforcement action against food operators who violate the Environmental Public Health Act.
Offenders may face fines of up to $2,000, with additional daily fines of $100 for continued offences.
Additionally, under the Sale of Food Act, food operators must ensure that food sold is of the quality demanded by customers.
Offenders can be fined up to $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to up to three months' jail.
Members of the public who observe poor food safety standards are advised not to patronise such establishments and can report them via www.sfa.gov.sg/feedback.
