In a troubling incident at a Yokohama department store, grilled eel has been identified as the cause of a food poisoning outbreak that has affected over 140 individuals and resulted in one fatality, according to the store’s president.
Shinji Kaneko, president of Keikyu Department Store, expressed deep remorse after customers who purchased lunch boxes containing grilled eel experienced severe symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhea. Among the affected was a woman in her 90s who unfortunately passed away.
Kaneko, addressing the issue publicly, extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and offered a formal apology, stating, “We deeply regret the situation and extend our sincerest apologies.”
The implicated eel was prepared in the traditional “kabayaki” style, which involves skewering, grilling, and basting the eel in a sweet, sticky mixture of soy sauce and mirin rice wine.
Eel, a delicacy enjoyed globally, has a long history in Japan, with evidence of its consumption dating back thousands of years, as indicated by remains found in ancient Japanese tombs.
Health officials conducting an investigation discovered staphylococcus aureus bacteria in the affected products, as reported by Keikyu Department Store.
Kaneko emphasized the store’s commitment to addressing the situation, stating, “We take this matter extremely seriously and will fully cooperate with the ongoing public health investigations.”
The eel products were prepared by Tokyo-based restaurant Isesada, which operates a stand within the Keikyu department store.
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