On July 30, 2024, Singapore time, a mass food poisoning incident occurred after lunch was served to employees at ByteDance’s office cafeteria on the 26th floor of One Raffles Quay.
Approximately 130 employees were affected in this large-scale food poisoning incident. The main symptoms included vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain—typical of acute gastroenteritis. More than 60 employees required hospitalization. Reports indicate that the primary dish responsible for the poisoning was Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken, provided by the catering company Yunhaiyao. According to testing by the Singapore Food Agency, the dish contained Staphylococcus aureus at levels reaching 200,000 CFU/g—2,000 times higher than the legal limit of 100 CFU/g.
In addition, health inspections revealed severe hygiene issues at Yunhaiyao’s Northpoint City branch. More than ten live cockroaches were found under a gray plastic mat in the food preparation area.
Legal Action and Latest Developments
Charges Filed: On June 4, 2025, Yunhaiyao was charged by Singaporean authorities for violating the Sale of Food Act and the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations.
Guilty Plea: On July 2, 2025, Yunhaiyao’s CEO, Lü Zhitao, pleaded guilty in State Court on behalf of the company, admitting to both charges.
Prosecutor’s Recommendation: The prosecution proposed a total fine of SGD 5,500 (approximately RMB 28,000), citing hygiene violations and failure to meet food safety standards.
Sentencing Delayed: The final sentencing has been postponed to July 17, 2025, to allow time for collecting additional information on the number of affected employees, hospitalization cases, and ongoing treatment needs.
Yunhaiyao, established in 2014, is a Yunnan cuisine restaurant chain with over 130 outlets in China. The company entered the Singapore market in 2019 and had opened five branches there as of August 2024. This incident is considered a major blow to Yunhaiyao’s overseas image, with some media reporting that its “global expansion has come under a dark cloud.”
As of now, there is no public information on whether affected ByteDance employees will receive compensation. The court has requested details regarding the severity of injuries and medical interventions. Following the incident, Yunhaiyao was ordered to shut down the involved branch for deep cleaning and implement food safety retraining for staff.
