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CNA
5 days ago
- Health
- CNA
CNA Explains: Why a caterer was fined S$7,000 for giving 171 people food poisoning
SINGAPORE: Food company Yunhaiyao has been fined S$7,000 (S$5,400) over a mass food poisoning incident at tech firm ByteDance's Singapore office, which left 171 victims sick. This was the maximum fine the company could have received. But online, some have suggested the penalty was too light, considering the number of people who fell ill. What happened? Yunhaiyao, which owns the Yun Nans chain of restaurants, catered lunch for staff of ByteDance at One Raffles Quay on Jul 30, 2024. After their meals, 171 people suffered gastroenteritis symptoms, including fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomachache and headache. Sixty were taken to the hospital, of whom 22 were warded. They had eaten a wok-fried diced chicken dish that contained Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, or staph, over 2,000 times above acceptable levels. Investigations later uncovered a cockroach infestation in a Yun Nans outlet at Northpoint City, which had the catering licence. This was the Northpoint City outlet's first attempt at offering corporate catering. Yunhaiyao said in a statement that there were problems in "basic hygiene protocols" among others. Yunhaiyao has since closed its Northpoint City outlet and its corporate catering business in Singapore. Yunhaiyao Pte Ltd was liable for the offence, although it was CEO Lu Zhi Tao who appeared in court to plead guilty and receive the sentence on the company's behalf. What's the punishment for food poisoning? Yunhaiyao pleaded guilty to two charges. The first charge was under Section 18 of the Sale of Food Act. This states that a person must not sell food that is not of the quality, nature or substance of food demanded by the purchaser. For a first-time offender like Yunhaiyao, the maximum punishment is a S$5,000 fine. A repeat offender can be fined up to S$10,000 and jailed for up to three months. The second charge was under Regulation 26(b) of the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations. This states that a person engaged in the sale of food shall ensure the premises are free of rodent, cockroach or other vermin infestation. The maximum punishment is a S$2,000 fine. If the offence continues after conviction, there is a maximum fine of S$100 for each day it continues. Yunhaiyao's fine consisted of the maximum S$5,000 for selling food that was not of the quality demanded by ByteDance, and the maximum S$2,000 for the cockroach infestation. The judge considered the number of victims to be "staggering" and said it was fortuitous that there were no deaths. Aside from the actual harm caused to the victims, she also considered the high risk of potential harm caused by Yunhaiyao's "lackadaisical attitude" towards food safety. Food poisoning cases can also be dealt with under the Environment Public Health Act. Section 40 of this Act states that food establishments must not sell any food intended for human consumption that is unsound or unfit for that purpose. The maximum fine for a first-time offender is S$10,000. A repeat offender can be fined up to S$20,000 and jailed for up to three months. How does this compare to other food poisoning cases? In 2014, a four-year-old boy died after eating contaminated food at a food court in Northpoint Shopping Centre. The stall operator was fined S$1,400 for two breaches – failing to register a food handler and failing to protect food in a covered container. The stall operator's licence was also suspended until it had thoroughly cleaned the stall and its food handlers were re-certified in food hygiene. In another fatal food poisoning case, Spize restaurant in 2018 supplied bento boxes contaminated with Salmonella for a company event. Bacillus cereus and faecal coliforms were also found in a fried rice dish. Seventy-three people fell ill, of whom 47 were hospitalised. A 38-year-old man who had a Salmonella infection died of sepsis and multi-organ failure following acute gastroenteritis. Spize was fined the maximum S$10,000 under the Environment Public Health Act, for possessing food unfit for human consumption. Together with related firm Spize Events, the fines came up to S$32,000. They were convicted of 14 offences, including hiring unregistered food handlers and having poor hygiene practices. At the time, authorities said there was insufficient evidence linking the fatality to negligence by any particular person, so no individual was charged. Mr Adrian Wee, managing partner of Lighthouse Law LLC, said the higher number of charges suggested that the conduct in the Spize case was more egregious. There is also a distinction between incidents that arise from a single breach and from multiple breaches, he said. For the latter, such as in the Spize case, the cumulative penalties can be significant. Mr Josephus Tan, managing director of Invictus Law Corporation, said every case was different even if they may look similar on the surface. Courts also consider factors like the severity of the injuries suffered by the victims, the degree of negligence and the duration of offending, he said. So was Yunhaiyao's punishment too light? "Given the magnitude of the food poisoning in this case, it is not surprising that some may feel that harsher penalties may be warranted," said Lighthouse's Mr Wee. But he noted that financial penalties, and imprisonment for repeat offenders, are not the only means of deterrence. Offenders also face loss of reputation and the potential loss of their shop or catering licences, he pointed out. Additionally, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) can issue directives to ensure food safety standards are met, and did so in Yunhaiyao's case. The company was required to throw away food, clean its premises and re-certify all food handlers in food safety. SFA suspended the Yun Nans outlet at Northpoint City until these measures were taken. Mr Tan from Invictus believes however that the fines were insufficient in this case and food poisoning ones in general, even though the court could not have imposed more than what parliament legislated. "A commercial operator must always carry a heavier responsibility if they are in the business of profiting from the masses where any subpar, unethical or illegal practices from their end may have tremendous (impact)," he said, citing the food, transport, healthcare, education and renovation sectors as examples. He pointed to how, under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (WSHA), workplace-related deaths can lead to fines of up to S$200,000 for individuals and and S$500,000 for companies. "It is timely for parliament to seriously consider amending the relevant legislations governing food safety to mirror those we see in the WSHA," Mr Tan added. "It is important to send a message to aspiring commercial operators that if one intends to profit from the masses, one should also be ready to adhere to the strictest industry and legal standards."
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Cockroaches and contaminated chicken: Caterer fined S$7,000 over mass food poisoning incident at ByteDance's Singapore office
SINGAPORE, July 17 — Catering company Yunhaiyao, which operates the Yun Nans restaurant chain, was fined S$7,000 (RM23,123) today for its role in a mass food poisoning incident that sickened 171 people at ByteDance's Singapore office last year, Channel News Asia reported. The fine was imposed for two offences: one under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations and another under the Sale of Food Act. Appearing in court to receive the sentence on behalf of the company, Yunhaiyao chief executive officer Lu Zhi Tao listened as District Judge Janet Wang called the number of victims 'staggering' and said it was fortunate no deaths occurred. The court heard that the affected individuals had consumed a wok-fried diced chicken dish catered by Yunhaiyao on July 30, 2024 that contained dangerously high levels of staphylococcus aureus — a bacterium known to cause foodborne illness. Laboratory testing by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) found the bacteria count in a food sample exceeded 200,000 colony-forming units per gram, far above the legal limit of 100 units. SFA prosecutor Mohd Rizal told the court that 60 of the 171 victims were taken to hospital. While 38 of them were treated as outpatients or self-medicated, 22 were hospitalised for between one and three days. According to Channel News Asia, the SFA also found more than 10 live cockroaches during an inspection of the Yun Nans outlet at Northpoint City following the incident. Yunhaiyao had earlier pleaded guilty to both charges. The first was for failing to maintain food hygiene standards, as evidenced by the cockroach infestation. The second was for selling food "not of the quality demanded by ByteDance", given the excessive staph contamination in the chicken dish. Staphylococcus aureus can produce toxins in food when it's not properly cooked or stored, or when it is handled by individuals with poor hygiene. The prosecution had sought a combined fine of S$5,500, noting this was the company's first offence. However, Judge Wang imposed a slightly higher fine of S$7,000, citing the serious health consequences for a large number of people.
CNA
6 days ago
- Health
- CNA
ByteDance mass food poisoning: Caterer Yunhaiyao fined S$7,000 for incident involving 171 victims
SINGAPORE: Catering company Yunhaiyao was fined S$7,000 (US$5,400) on Thursday (Jul 17) over a mass food poisoning incident at Bytedance last year. Mr Lu Zhi Tao, CEO of Yunhaiyao, appeared in court to receive the sentence on behalf of the company, which runs the Yun Nans chain of restaurants. Singapore Food Agency (SFA) prosecutor Mohd Rizal informed the court that there were a total of 171 victims who suffered gastroenteritis symptoms. Sixty victims were sent to the hospital, of whom 22 were warded for one to three days. The remaining 38 were not warded but received outpatient treatment or self-medicated. District Judge Janet Wang said this was "staggering" number of victims, and that it was fortuitous that there were no deaths. The ByteDance employees had eaten wok-fried diced chicken catered by Yunhaiyao that contained staphylococcus aureus bacteria exceeding what is allowed. Staphylococcus aureus, or staph, is a bacteria that can cause food poisoning. It produces toxins in food that is not cooked or stored properly, or through people with the bacteria who have poor hygiene and handle food without first washing their hands. More than 200,000 colony-forming units per gram of staphylococcus aureus counts were found in a sample obtained by SFA. Food regulations state that fewer than 100 colony-forming units can be found in food. When SFA later investigated the Yun Nans outlet at Northpoint City, they found more than 10 live cockroaches. Yunhaiyao had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations for the cockroaches, and another charge under the Sale of Food Act. This was for selling the chicken dish to ByteDance when it was "not of the quality demanded by ByteDance", since it contained staphylococcus aureus, or staph, counts exceeding allowed limits.
CNA
02-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
ByteDance mass food poisoning: CEO of caterer pleads guilty
SINGAPORE: The chief executive of a caterer involved in a mass food poisoning case pleaded guilty in court on Wednesday (Jul 2). The hearing revealed that staff members of ByteDance, the company that owned TikTok, had consumed wok fried diced chicken catered by Yunhaiyao that contained staphylococcus aureus bacteria exceeding what is allowed. When the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) investigated the caterer's premises at Northpoint City, they found more than 10 live cockroaches. Mr Lu Zhi Tao, CEO of Yunhaiyao, pleaded guilty to one charge under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations for the cockroaches, and another charge under the Sale of Food Act. This is for selling the wok fried diced chicken dish to ByteDance when it was "not of the quality demanded by ByteDance", since it contained staphylococcus aureus counts exceeding allowed limits. More than 200,000 colony forming units per gram of staphylococcus aureus counts were found in a sample obtained by SFA. Food regulations state that fewer than 100 colony forming units can be found in food. The pathogen count found in the chicken made it "unsuitable for consumption", said the SFA prosecutor. Consuming such food items may cause gastroenteritis symptoms. ByteDance had catered lunch for its employees on Jul 30 last year. The meal was served at the canteen at One Raffles Quay and involved food from Yunhaiyao and another caterer. Sixty people who consumed the meal prepared by Yunhaiyao suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting, and were taken to different hospitals. SFA's National Centre for Food Science confirmed that the chicken dish prepared by Yunhaiyao was the likely cause of staphylococcus aureus food poisoning in the victims. A day after the incident, SFA inspected Yunhaiyao's food preparation premises and discovered a cockroach infestation. More than 10 live cockroaches were found beneath a folded grey plastic mat behind a rack on Yunhaiyao's premises. Staff members immediately disposed of the infested material, the prosecutor said. SFA prosecutor Mohd Rizal asked for a total fine of S$5,500 for Yunhaiyao. This is the company's first offence. However, District Judge Janet Wang adjourned sentencing, saying more information was needed as the extent of harm caused "is not clear". She said there is "huge public interest in this case" and asked for information including the extent of the injuries to the victims, how many required medical intervention, how many were hospitalised and how many were given hospitalisation leave. Mitigation and sentencing was adjourned to Jul 17.
Malay Mail
04-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Singapore eatery Yun Hai Yao charged over ByteDance food poisoning in 2024; live cockroaches, toxin-producing bacteria found
SINGAPORE, June 4 — Chinese eatery chain Yun Hai Yao has been charged in court over a mass food poisoning incident at ByteDance's Singapore office in 2024 that affected 169 people. The company, also known locally as Yun Nans, faces two charges under the Sale of Food Act and the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations, according to court documents, The Straits Times reported today. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) alleges that a chicken dish catered by the company for ByteDance's office at One Raffles Quay on July 30, 2024, was contaminated with harmful bacteria. The dish reportedly contained coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus with genes for Staphylococcus Enterotoxin A, a toxin-producing bacterium that can cause food poisoning when hygiene standards are not maintained during food preparation. Symptoms from exposure to the toxin include sudden nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea. Court documents also state that over 10 live cockroaches were found at Yun Hai Yao's outlet in Northpoint City the following day, hidden beneath a folded plastic mat behind a rack. A prosecutor from SFA told the court they are seeking a total fine of S$5,000 (RM16,500) for the two charges. Yun Hai Yao's CEO, Lu Zhi Tao, appeared in court on behalf of the company and said they intend to plead guilty without legal representation. The case has been scheduled for a guilty plea on July 2. Yun Hai Yao and another caterer, Pu Tien Services, were suspended by SFA from July 31, 2024, following the outbreak, which led to 17 hospitalisations. Pu Tien Services resumed operations on August 10, while Yun Hai Yao's suspension was lifted six days later after it completed necessary sanitation measures.
