The Genki Sushi restaurant chain also has locations in California and Washington, according to its corporate website. Because Genki Sushi restaurants on those islands handled the scallops, the stores were ordered to close.
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(AP Photo/Caleb Jones). Employees clean the Genki Sushi conveyor belt restaurant chain Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016, in Aiea, Hawaii.
On Tuesday, health officials said frozen raw scallops suspected of triggering the outbreak came from the Philippines and were served at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai but not on other islands.
State health officials have advised anyone who dined at Genki Sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai in the last two weeks to get a vaccine.
At least 168 people, all adults, have been confirmed in the outbreak, which has been ongoing since June, according to the health department’s weekly update posted August 10. Symptoms include fever, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea and yellow skin and eyes.
Health Department officials ordered an embargo of all frozen scallop products distributed by Koha Oriental Foods and True World Foods in Hawaii. He said three boxes of scallops from True World, weighing 7 pounds each, already had been thrown away so they could not be tested.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman Lauren Sucher said the agency is working to confirm the source.
People can contract the virus by eating contaminated food, drinking contaminated water, close personal contact or sex.
Findings of the investigation suggest that the source of the outbreak is focused on Oahu. He says the company hasn’t tried to hide any information and showed authorities invoices and distribution records.
Virginia Pressler in a release said Genki Sushi “has complied with all orders” in the case.
Genki Sushi is known for having patrons select their sushi items by taking them off a conveyor belt that moves around tables and counters.
Almost two months and 168 confirmed infections later, the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) has identified the likely source of the worst Hepatitis A outbreak the state has seen in decades: a chain of sushi restaurants on Oahu and Kauai.
The department said Wednesday all those who contracted the virus were adults.
Koha Oriental supplied scallops to the Genki Sushi Oahu and Kauai restaurants, and the product of concern was the Sea Port Bay Scallops (Wild Harvest, Raw Frozen) that originated in the Philippines, Okubo said.
Health officials said they are providing the information to the public as a precaution in an attempt to prevent any new cases.
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Mauk’s lawsuit – filed by Marler Clark, a Seattle-based law firm specializing in food safety, and a Honolulu-based Ogawa, Lau, Nakamura and Jew – is seeking damages for an unspecified amount. Hansen said Genki Sushi hadn’t seen the lawsuit and didn’t have any comment. A voicemail message left for Koha Oriental Foods wasn’t immediately returned.
