In a recent incident, 130 individuals have fallen ill with symptoms of food poisoning after consuming grilled eel dishes, a traditional midsummer treat, sold at a department store in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Local health authorities disclosed this development on Monday.
Most of those affected have reported experiencing symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, though the majority of cases have been mild. Tragically, one elderly woman in her 90s has died, with the exact cause of death yet to be determined, according to Yokohama’s health center.
The outbreak has been linked to eel dishes sold by the Tokyo-based restaurant chain Nihonbashi Isesada at Keikyu Department Store in Yokohama’s Konan Ward. Over 1,500 portions of grilled eel and bento boxes featuring eel and rice were reportedly sold on Wednesday and Thursday of last week.
Health officials identified staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium known to cause symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, in the excrement of some affected individuals who consumed the meals.
Grilled eel, or unagi, is a popular dish in Japan, especially on “Doyo no Ushi no Hi,” traditional midsummer ox days believed to benefit from the dish’s purported ability to help combat the heat. This year, one such day coincided with the sale of the contaminated meals.
Authorities are actively investigating the source of contamination and the circumstances leading to the outbreak, with efforts focused on preventing further cases and ensuring public safety during the ongoing investigation.