Sushi birthday party ends with twelve teens hospitalized and dozens more sick from food poisoning: victims suffered ‘projectile vomiting’ inside and outside the Long Island restaurant
- A dozen 13-year-old girls ended up in a New York hospital for food poisoning after falling ill after eating at a Japanese steakhouse
- It is believed that contaminated rice may be responsible for symptoms such as ‘projectile vomiting’
- Diners at the Kumo Sushi and Steakhouse near Stony Brook University described a disturbing scene as people vomited both inside and outside the establishment
Twelve 13-year-old girls all ended up in hospital in New York with food poisoning after becoming ill from eating food at a Japanese steakhouse.
The group celebrated Arial Arias’ daughter’s birthday at a restaurant on Long Island, where at least 20 people also fell ill, including a pregnant woman.
The birthday girl’s parents believe the rice is responsible for causing horrific symptoms.
Everyone present at the party ordered different types of food, including chicken, beef and vegetables, but rice was the only common factor among all the dishes.
Witnesses at the Kumo Sushi and Steakhouse near Stony Brook University said the scene was “disturbing” and people were “projectile vomiting” both inside and outside the venue.
A dozen 13-year-old girls ended up in a New York hospital for food poisoning after becoming ill after eating at a Japanese steakhouse on Long Island
Other parents who sat at the bar and ordered seafood experienced no symptoms.
‘We didn’t get sick from the sushi; they all got sick from the hibachi,” Arias countered Fox news. ‘It was the opposite of what you thought.
“There was another group that got there before us – they were throwing up in the bathroom first,” Arias explained. ‘So the girls told me they thought the lady (who) was throwing up everywhere had a stomach virus and the girls were getting nervous
Those who started to feel sick did so shortly after consuming the food.
“It was traumatic,” Arias countered News 12. ‘One girl was projectile vomiting. I still didn’t know if it was fear. I happened to look over and another girl was throwing up a projectile.”
The rapid onset of symptoms, combined with the likelihood that all victims consumed rice, points to a possible culprit: Bacillus cereus, a bacteria commonly found in uncooked rice.
12 people were hospitalized, while another 28 others reported various symptoms.
The rapid onset of symptoms, combined with the likelihood that all victims consumed rice, points to a possible culprit: Bacillus cereus, a bacteria commonly found in uncooked rice.
It becomes harmful if cooked rice is left at room temperature, releasing toxins that can lead to food poisoning.
Suffolk County health officials have since issued 15 alleged violations against the restaurant, including eight for foodborne illness risk factors.
Health investigators suspect the restaurant’s refrigerator may have been damaged, but an investigation is ongoing.
‘I am desperate. I was going to take my daughter for her 13th birthday and celebrate with all her best friends. I thought this was going to be a joyful occasion, and it turned out that they were all in the hospital together that night,” Arias said.
Bacillus cereus, a bacterium found in rice, is heat resistant, meaning it can still form when rice is heated
She is now considering legal action against Kumo to compensate for the girls’ suffering.
‘I am extremely angry with the company. We all always go out to eat. We never think we’re going to eat somewhere and the food will be contaminated.”
Despite the traumatic experience, the teens are recovering, although many still suffer from stomach aches and some are hesitant to eat out again.
Kumo’s owners, Tony and Bobby Lam, say they promise to improve their practices.
“At Kumo Restaurant, we consider our customers as an extension of our family, and your well-being remains our top priority. We want to learn from this incident, improve our practices and ensure that every visit to Kumo is not just a meal, but a memorable and safe experience,” the owners said in a statement.
The restaurant could still face fines following an investigation by the Suffolk County Health Department.