TOKYO. A food poisoning incident linked to grilled eel from a department store near Tokyo has resulted in one death and nearly 150 illnesses, with two individuals requiring hospitalization, officials reported.
The affected customers had purchased grilled eel dishes from the Keikyu Department Store in Yokohama between July 24 and July 25. The eel, prepared by the Tokyo-based restaurant chain Nihonbashi Isesada, was sold in the grocery section and as part of box lunches. The department store confirmed that over 1,700 servings of the grilled eel were sold during this period.
The Yokohama City Health Center reported that 147 individuals experienced symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea. The deceased, a woman in her 90s, developed these symptoms before her death. Her exact cause of death remains under investigation. The health center identified staphylococcus aureus, a bacterium responsible for food poisoning, in samples from the affected individuals.
The department store and Isesada have both issued apologies for the incident. Soichiro Tomita, an executive at Isesada, admitted during a televised news conference that some cooks had not been wearing plastic gloves, which may have contributed to the contamination.
In response to the outbreak, the health center has temporarily closed the Isesada shop located in the grocery section, as well as its restaurant, while a thorough investigation into the cause of the food poisoning is conducted. Both Keikyu Department Store and Nihonbashi Isesada have pledged full cooperation with health officials as they work to prevent further incidents.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
