TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The director of the Taipei Department of Health Food and Drug Division (北市衛生局食藥科) unveiled on Monday (Jan. 13) that over 70% of the city's INPARADISE (饗饗) food poisoning cases involved sashimi consumption. The symptoms and incubation period suggest a norovirus link, but confirmation awaits further reports.
Taipei's INPARADISE restaurant Xinyi branch recently experienced a food poisoning outbreak, sending 59 people to the hospital. The restaurant resumed operations after approval last Sunday. Of the 59 reported cases, 42 consumed sashimi, 21 ate scallops, and 5 consumed oysters, highlighting sashimi as a common factor. Authorities have collected four environmental and four human samples, with results expected in 1 to 2 weeks.
Director Lin Chen (林冠蓁) reported that sashimi, oysters, and scallops were shared ingredients among the affected. Lin speculated that fresh ingredients might have been contaminated with norovirus, pathogenic E. coli, or salmonella. The symptoms and incubation period align closely with norovirus infection, indicating a high likelihood. However, the detailed cause requires the investigation report's release.
Should the incident meet the criteria for food poisoning causative agents and responsible foods, authorities may impose fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million under Articles 15 and 44 of the "Food Safety and Sanitation Management Act" (食品安全衛生管理法).
