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Tokyo: In a surprising turn of events, what was supposed to be a delicious summer treat turned into a rather unfortunate episode for nearly 150 people near Tokyo. The culprit? None other than the beloved grilled eel, a traditional Japanese dish often enjoyed during the hottest days of summer.
Keikyu Department Store, located in Yokohama, reported that 147 customers had fallen ill after indulging in grilled eel dishes purchased between July 24 and July 25. Symptoms ranged from mild discomfort to more severe reactions, with two individuals requiring hospitalization. Sadly, a woman in her 90s passed away, although her exact cause of death is still under investigation.
Now, let’s talk about this eel dish. In Japan, roasted eel, or “unagi,” is considered a summer staple, thought to boost stamina and keep you cool during the heat. It’s usually a surefire hit, but this time, things went awry. The common link among all those affected was the grilled eel, either sold on its own or as part of a box lunch with rice. It was prepared by Nihonbashi Isesada, a well-known Tokyo-based restaurant chain, and sold at the department store.
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In total, over 1,700 servings of the eel were sold during those two days. But rather than providing the usual burst of energy, these dishes unfortunately led to a burst of, well, stomach troubles. Tests conducted by the Yokohama city health center revealed the presence of staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that causes symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, in the excrement samples from those who fell ill.
While this incident is certainly concerning, it’s a reminder of the importance of food safety, especially when dealing with large-scale food production. And while grilled eel may still be on the menu for many, this serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when things go wrong in the kitchen.
Keikyu Department Store and Isesada apologized over the food poisoning and vowed to cooperate with health officials. Isesada executive Soichiro Tomita, at a televised news conference, acknowledged that some cooks were not wearing plastic gloves.
The health center said it has temporarily suspended operations at the Isesada shop on the grocery floor and its restaurant on another floor of the department store while they examined the cause.
Let’s hope for a swift recovery for those affected and safer servings of eel in the future!
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