Nearly 150 People Poisoned by Japanese Eel Rice; One Fatality Reported

The incident originated from grilled eel prepared by the Nihonbashi Unagi Isesada restaurant chain and sold at the Keikyu department store in Yokohama, Japan’s second-largest city.

On the morning of July 25, local health authorities received the first reports of two individuals experiencing food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. Medical experts traced the cause to boxed lunches and grilled eels sold at the Keikyu department store.

Tests revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, commonly found on human skin and capable of producing toxins that cause acute digestive symptoms.

So far, at least 147 people, including children under 10 and elderly individuals over 90, have shown signs of poisoning after consuming the grilled eel. Most cases exhibited mild symptoms, but two people required hospitalization.

Tragically, a 90-year-old woman died after eating the grilled eel. Medical experts stated that her death was primarily due to an underlying illness, not solely food poisoning.

Grilled eel (unagi) is a popular Japanese dish, especially in the summer. This serious food poisoning incident has shocked the Japanese public.

Initial reports indicate that Isesada restaurant sold over 1,700 boxed lunches and grilled eels on July 24 and 25. Alarmingly, at least 450 of these products had incorrect expiration dates and lacked allergen information, posing further health risks.

The investigation also uncovered serious violations in food handling procedures. Specifically, five employees prepared eel without wearing gloves, violating food safety regulations.

In response to the incident, the restaurant recalled all affected products and issued a public apology. At a joint press conference on July 29, representatives of Isesada and Keikyu department stores pledged to investigate and thoroughly determine the cause of the incident.

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Source: Vietnam Insider