KANAZAWA—Close to 900 people suffered from food poisoning after eating at a “nagashi somen” restaurant in Tsubata, Ishikawa Prefecture.
Nagashi somen is a practice in which customers use chopsticks to try to scoop up thin somen noodles as they flow down a bamboo chute filled with running water.
The Ishikawa prefectural government announced on Oct. 6 that 892 people were certified with food poisoning after dining at the restaurant between Aug. 11 and 17, during the Bon holiday season. While none suffered serious symptoms, 22 were hospitalized.
Many complained of diarrhea and a fever, and 611 were treated at hospitals.
The prefectural government said 1,298 customers submitted complaints, of whom the 892 were certified. They came from 18 prefectures around Japan, including Ishikawa, Toyama, Tokyo, Osaka and Aichi.
Customers who ate the nagashi somen, salt-grilled mountain trout or shaved ice came down with the symptoms, leading the prefectural government to check on the springwater the restaurant used. Officials found campylobacter, a type of bacteria that causes diarrhea, in the water.
The prefectural government ordered the restaurant to suspend operations.
FoodWorld 