Chef Komeo closes Kappo Komeo following mass food poisoning

Chef Komeo has announced the closure of his Japanese restaurant, Kappo Komeo, following a mass food poisoning incident. The outbreak occurred during the Azabu-juban Noryo Matsuri in August, where 78 people reported symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever after consuming ‘chilled crab ramen’.

Minato Ward authorities identified Salmonella as the cause and linked it to the specific ramen dish. The restaurant had previously received a seven-day business suspension order. Komeo stated that the decision to close stems from a failure to meet the fundamental responsibility of providing safe food to customers, though he emphasized that he will continue to take responsibility and support the victims.

Public scrutiny has emerged regarding Komeo’s other business, the crab ramen specialty shop Kaneo in Asakusa, which remains operational. While Kaneo was not legally implicated in the food poisoning incident, some critics have questioned the ethics of continuing operations under the same ownership. Additionally, Kaneo has previously faced controversy regarding discrepancies between its crowdfunding promises to promote domestic crab and its actual use of imported soft-shell crabs.