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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Lydia Chantler-Hicks

TikTok headquarters hit by major food poisoning outbreak with 57 staff needing hospital treatment

More than 50 staff members at an office of TikTok’s parent company have been taken to hospital after a suspected food poisoning outbreak.

Health and safety officials are said to be investigating the incident, which happened at the headquarters of firm ByteDance in Singapore.

A total of 60 staff were left suffering symptoms of gastroenteritis, with 57 of them needing hospital treatment.

"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," a ByteDance spokesperson told the BBC.

"We are investigating the matter and are working with the relevant authorities on this."

Gastroenteritis symptoms diarrhoea and vomiting. It is usually caused by a bacterial or viral tummy bug.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force sent 15 ambulances to the scene, according to local news outlet Lianhe Zaobao. Fire engines were also said to be on standby.

Lainhe Zaobao reported that a Chinese buffet had been served at ByteDance’s canteen, at its premises in Singapore’s business district on Tuesday afternoon.

Food served at ByteDance is prepared by third party caterers, according to the BBC.

"Food operators must play their part by adhering to good food safety practices" the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and the city-state’s Ministry of Health said in a joint statement.

"SFA will not hesitate to take enforcement action against errant food operators.”

Chinese internet technology company ByteDance developed video-sharing app TikTok, which is not available in China, along with popular Chinese video-sharing app Douyin.

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