12 fall ill after eating oysters and sashimi at Causeway Bay Japanese restaurant

Twelve people, including one man and 11 women aged 25 to 59, fell ill after dining at Harvest House at Aura on Pennington, 66 Jardine’s Bazaar, Causeway Bay, on Monday (Jan 26), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said.

Symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, appeared 14 to 51 hours after the meal. Five sought medical attention, with one admitted to hospital. All are now in stable condition.

CHP is investigating two linked food poisoning clusters involving the 12 people. Preliminary investigations linked the cases to raw oysters and sashimi. Officers from the CHP and Food and Environmental Hygiene Department inspected the restaurant, reviewed food handling and hygiene, and collected samples for testing.

The Food Safety Centre found potential cross-contamination risks. The restaurant was ordered to suspend the implicated foods, clean and disinfect the premises, and provide staff with food safety training.

Investigations are ongoing.