Food critic Keith Lee embarked on a food review journey at the renowned sushi restaurant chain 'Fob Sushi Bar' in Seattle. On November 10, he shared a video of his experience on TikTok. Initially, his review seemed positive, but things took an unexpected turn when his followers watched the video of him enjoying sashimi. According to reports from Daily Mail, several viewers claimed to have witnessed something moving within the sashimi and suspected it to be a "worm". This led to significant criticism from the viewers and raised serious safety concerns.

Lee's Response and Uncertainty

In a subsequent video, Keith Lee addressed the issue, stating that it "did appear that something moved" on the sashimi. He emphasized that he couldn't "confirm or deny" whether it was indeed a worm. He further shared that he himself had not experienced any unusual side effects or fallen ill. However, he did mention that one person had alleged being hospitalized the next day after dining at the same chain. This added to the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the incident.

Restaurant's Denial and Explanation

After facing backlash, the restaurant firmly denied the reports of any "worm" in the food, deeming it a mere rumour. Through its official Instagram handle, the restaurant clarified that the movement seen in the video was due to the natural elasticity of the fish. They emphasized their strict adherence to FDA and HACCP standards to ensure the highest quality and safety in every dish. The restaurant expressed their gratitude for the support and assured customers that such rumours could harm small businesses. They were committed to addressing the issue directly and maintaining the trust of their patrons.

Closure of Outlets and Investigation

On November 18, ten days after the incident, the sushi bar made a significant announcement. They decided to shut down two of their outlets "until further notice" as they conducted a thorough investigation into the situation. The statement read, "Dear valued customers, in response to recent food safety concerns, we have taken the decision to close our FOB Sushi locations in Seattle and Bellevue. Your health and safety are our top priorities. We are conducting a comprehensive investigation to address the matter and will implement all necessary measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again. To our community, we are deeply grateful for your years of support and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. We remain dedicated to providing you with the finest quality sushi."It remains unclear whether the sashimi served to the food critic actually contained a worm or not. The incident has raised questions about food safety standards and the trustworthiness of restaurant claims. As the investigation continues, the fate of the Fob Sushi Bar and its reputation hangs in the balance.