It gave Seattle diners sleepless nights.
Fob Sushi Bar stores in Seattle have been temporarily closed after fans of food influencer Keith Lee claimed they saw something flickering while reviewing Lee’s video of the restaurant.
“In response to recent food safety concerns, we have decided to close our Fob sushi locations in Seattle and Bellevue until further notice,” the raw fish retailer announced in an Instagram post two days ago.
The controversy erupted on Nov. 10 after Lee posted a shared recap video to his 16.9 million TikTok followers. He was curious about Phoebe’s “unique” set-up, namely that all sushi was served buffet-style by the pound rather than by the slice.
After sampling $15 worth of sashimi (just plain fish) and nigiri (fish over rice with vinegar) — which did not include shellfish due to his shellfish allergy — Lee gave the place an overall score of 8 out of 10 .Gustya claimed the fish was good, but the rice was a bit overcooked and “rubbery”.
“This is absolutely a place I will be coming back to,” concluded the TikTokker, who marveled at the affordability of such a massive load.
However, Lee’s endorsement was tarnished soon after, as reviewers claimed they spotted something suspicious moving in his sushi about two minutes into the clip.
“That fish definitely moved at 1:50,” one shouted, while another wrote: “Did anyone see that worm on that salmon!”
Others noted that he gave the fish in question a glowing review. “8.5 out of 10 for the piece of worm,” observed one.
Many viewers demanded answers from Fob, who responded in an Instagram post.
They dismissed the allegations as “false,” claiming they follow Food and Drug Administration standards “to ensure the highest quality and safety in every dish.”
As for the movement in the video, Fob credited it with the fish’s “natural elasticity” and “stick pressure when applied to its structure.”
“Rumors like this can hurt small businesses, so we’re taking it head-on,” they said. “Thank you for trusting us and supporting FOB Sushi.”
Lee then uploaded a follow-up video, claiming it “looked like something moved”, although he couldn’t “confirm or deny” what it was.
While the influencer insisted he was not suffering any symptoms, he claimed someone claimed they had been hospitalized after eating at the same chain.
“I sent my heart and my blessings to that person,” said Lee, who dismissed accusations that Sushi’s special moves were his fault.
“For the restaurant to post a statement saying that I hold sushi or I hold chopsticks a certain way is why the sushi moved, I personally don’t agree with that,” Lee said. “Because I’ve had sushi a thousand times, and I’ve held sushi a thousand different ways, and I’ve never seen sushi behave like that.”
However, Lee reiterated that he was not implying that the nigiri swirls were caused by a parasite.
Fob then announced that they were closing their Bellevue and Seattle locations until further notice and conducting an investigation to get to the bottom of the incident.
“Your health and safety are our highest priorities,” they wrote on Instagram. “We are conducting a full investigation to address the situation and will take all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again.”
They added, “We remain committed to providing you with the highest quality before.”
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