Yun Hai Yao CEO pleads guilty over ByteDance Singapore food poisoning incident

SINGAPORE: Lu Zhi Tao (吕志韬), chief executive officer of food catering firm Yun Hai Yao, pleaded guilty on 2 July 2025 in relation to the mass food poisoning that occurred at ByteDance’s Singapore office in July 2024. According to a report by CNA, Lu admitted guilt to two charges: one under the Environmental Public Health Act (Food Hygiene) Regulations and another under the Sale of Food Act. The case stems from a corporate catering event on 30 July 2024, when ByteDance engaged Yun Hai Yao and another caterer. After consuming the food, numerous staff members fell ill with symptoms including abdominal pain and vomiting.

Over 200,000 bacterial units found in chicken dish served to ByteDance staff

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) reported that 169 people were affected in total, with 60 individuals hospitalised as a result. Testing revealed that a wok-fried diced chicken (汽锅鸡) dish catered by Yun Hai Yao contained Staphylococcus aureus bacteria above legally allowed limits. This bacterium can contaminate food during handling and preparation, leading to foodborne illness. SFA test results showed more than 200,000 colony-forming units per gram of the bacteria in the sample. Under Singapore’s food safety regulations, this number must remain under 100 colony-forming units.

More than 10 live cockroaches found at Northpoint outlet after food poisoning incident

CNA also reported that on 31 July 2024, the day after the poisoning incident, more than 10 live cockroaches were discovered by SFA inspectors at Yun Hai Yao’s Northpoint City outlet. During the court proceedings, SFA prosecutor Mohd Rizal requested a total fine of S$5,500. However, District Judge Janet Wang postponed sentencing. She cited the need for further information regarding the extent of harm caused, as the injuries and medical impact on the victims were not fully clarified. Judge Wang emphasised the high level of public interest in the case. She requested a detailed breakdown of the injuries, the number of people requiring medical intervention, and other relevant data to inform sentencing. Sentencing and mitigation have been adjourned to 17 July 2025. Yun Hai Yao, known in Singapore for operating the Yun Nans chain of restaurants, is a major Chinese dining brand. Founded in 2009, it has grown to include over a dozen outlets across major Chinese cities. Its annual sales surpass 1 billion yuan (approximately S$200 million), making it a leading player among mid- to high-end Chinese restaurant chains. Lu, who started Yun Hai Yao at age 23, relocated to Singapore in 2019 with his family to establish the brand’s first overseas outlet. This was revealed in a 2019 interview published by Pin Prestige.