Police arrested more than twenty individuals in an alleged gay party in Kelantan, discovering condoms and HIV medications at a bungalow during the raid.
In a recent ruling, Yunhaiyao, the operator of Yun Nans restaurant chain, was fined S$7,000 for a mass food poisoning incident that affected 171 people at ByteDance's Singapore office in 2024. The incident, which saw 60 individuals hospitalized, was caused by excessive levels of Staphylococcus aureus in a wok-fried diced chicken dish catered by Yunhaiyao.
The fine, imposed by District Judge Janet Wang, was for two offences: one under the Environmental Public Health (Food Hygiene) Regulations and another under the Sale of Food Act. Judge Wang cited the serious health consequences for a large number of people and the staggering number of victims as reasons for the slightly higher fine. She expressed relief that no deaths occurred, but noted that the number of hospitalizations was still "staggering".
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) found more than 10 live cockroaches during an inspection of the Yun Nans outlet at Northpoint City following the incident. This, along with the laboratory test results showing the bacteria count in the food sample exceeded 200,000 colony-forming units per gram, far above the legal limit of 100 units, provided evidence of Yunhaiyao's failure to maintain food hygiene standards.
The prosecution had sought a combined fine of S$5,500, noting this was the company's first offence. However, Yunhaiyao also pleaded guilty to selling food "not of the quality demanded by ByteDance", given the excessive staph contamination in the chicken dish.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety in Singapore. 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. To prevent food poisoning from Staphylococcus aureus, food establishments can implement measures such as proper food handling and storage, strict hygiene protocols, thorough cooking, regular cleaning and sanitizing, ongoing training for staff, and regular microbial testing.
While specific data on the frequency of food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus in Singapore may not be readily available, it is clear that such incidents can occur and have serious consequences. The Yunhaiyao case underscores the need for vigilance and adherence to food safety standards by all food establishments in Singapore.
- The Court, in a recent ruling, fined Yunhaiyao, the operator of the Yun Nans restaurant chain, S$7,000 for a mass food poisoning incident in 2024, which was caused by excessive levels of Staphylococcus aureus in a wok-fried diced chicken dish.
- The General News about Yunhaiyao's fine highlighted the serious health consequences for a large number of people, with 60 individuals hospitalized from the incident.
- The Medical-Conditions involved in this case were linked to Staphylococcus aureus, which can produce toxins in food when it's not properly cooked or stored, or when it is handled by individuals with poor hygiene.
- With the Yunhaiyao case serving as a reminder, it's clear that the Environment, in this case, the Food industry in Singapore, needs to uphold Health-and-Wellness standards, implementing measures such as proper food handling and storage, strict hygiene protocols, thorough cooking, regular cleaning and sanitizing, ongoing training for staff, and regular microbial testing to prevent similar incidents.
