Sushi Restaurant in Seattle Temporarily Closes After ‘Worm’ Complaints on Food Critic Keith Lee’s Video

Mar. 15, 2025

Keith Lee, a photo of the FOB Sushi Bar sign.Photo:Bryan Steffy/Getty;Google Maps

Bryan Steffy/Getty;Google Maps

A sushi restaurant in Seattle has temporarily closed amid health and safety concerns following a TikToker’s food review.Food critic Keith Lee, who has 16.1 million followers on the social media platform,posted a videoof his FOB Sushi Bar visit earlier this month.A follower then slowed down the clip and focused on something that appeared to be moving at the end of a piece of fish, with some saying it looked like a “worm.“Lee, who is known for his taste test videos, then posted afollow-up clipafter the restaurant responded onInstagramto say “the movement in the video is due to natural elasticity in the fish—not worms.“The content creator replied, “Somebody slowed the video down and it did appear that something moved.“In the earlier Instagram post, the restaurant also denied Lee’s claims stating, “it is entirely false” and that the restaurant is “committed to upholding the highest health and safety standards to provide clean, fresh, and safe food for every customer.”“1,000 percent transparency, I didn’t see anything until somebody pointed out. I can’t confirm or deny what it was, but I can confirm I am okay,” Lee told followers.“I appreciate the people who actually did reach out and was worried about me,” he continued, adding that he’d seen a video of someone that had reportedly been hospitalized after allegedly visiting the eatery the day after him.FOB Sushi Bar then confirmed it would be shutting its Seattle and Bellevue locations “until further notice” in a follow-upInstagrampost.A photo of the FOB Sushi Bar sign.Google Maps"Your health and safety are our highest priorities,” the company wrote. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to address the situation and will take all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again.““To our community, we are deeply grateful for your years of support and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” FOB Sushi Bar added. “We remain dedicated to providing you with the highest quality sushi.“The Seattle and King County public health department said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Nov. 19: “Our Food Safety Program received complaints in response to the video circulating over the weekend about FOB Sushi Bar.““Yesterday, the area health inspector attempted to conduct an inspection, however the food establishment was closed. We will follow up with the restaurant regarding their adherence to the relevant food safety measures,” the statement added.PEOPLE reached out to the restaurant, but did not immediately receive a response.Keith Lee.Bryan Steffy/GettyNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Before announcing the closure, FOB Sushi Bar shared a letter on Instagram from the Young Ocean, Inc. supplier showing how they freeze and store the restaurant’s fish to “kill parasites.““We have never had any issues regarding food safety and remain committed to serving you the highest quality seafood,” the eatery said in the previous post.Lee insisted in his TikTok video, “I’ve already said a thousand times, I don’t believe in tearing down any business. But at the same time, peoples' health are on the line.”

A sushi restaurant in Seattle has temporarily closed amid health and safety concerns following a TikToker’s food review.

Food critic Keith Lee, who has 16.1 million followers on the social media platform,posted a videoof his FOB Sushi Bar visit earlier this month.

A follower then slowed down the clip and focused on something that appeared to be moving at the end of a piece of fish, with some saying it looked like a “worm.”

Lee, who is known for his taste test videos, then posted afollow-up clipafter the restaurant responded onInstagramto say “the movement in the video is due to natural elasticity in the fish—not worms.”

The content creator replied, “Somebody slowed the video down and it did appear that something moved.”

In the earlier Instagram post, the restaurant also denied Lee’s claims stating, “it is entirely false” and that the restaurant is “committed to upholding the highest health and safety standards to provide clean, fresh, and safe food for every customer.”

“1,000 percent transparency, I didn’t see anything until somebody pointed out. I can’t confirm or deny what it was, but I can confirm I am okay,” Lee told followers.

“I appreciate the people who actually did reach out and was worried about me,” he continued, adding that he’d seen a video of someone that had reportedly been hospitalized after allegedly visiting the eatery the day after him.

FOB Sushi Bar then confirmed it would be shutting its Seattle and Bellevue locations “until further notice” in a follow-upInstagrampost.

A photo of the FOB Sushi Bar sign.Google Maps

Google Maps

“Your health and safety are our highest priorities,” the company wrote. “We are conducting a thorough investigation to address the situation and will take all necessary measures to prevent it from happening again.”

“To our community, we are deeply grateful for your years of support and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused,” FOB Sushi Bar added. “We remain dedicated to providing you with the highest quality sushi.”

The Seattle and King County public health department said in a statement to PEOPLE on Tuesday, Nov. 19: “Our Food Safety Program received complaints in response to the video circulating over the weekend about FOB Sushi Bar.”

“Yesterday, the area health inspector attempted to conduct an inspection, however the food establishment was closed. We will follow up with the restaurant regarding their adherence to the relevant food safety measures,” the statement added.

PEOPLE reached out to the restaurant, but did not immediately receive a response.

Keith Lee.Bryan Steffy/Getty

Bryan Steffy/Getty

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Before announcing the closure, FOB Sushi Bar shared a letter on Instagram from the Young Ocean, Inc. supplier showing how they freeze and store the restaurant’s fish to “kill parasites.”

“We have never had any issues regarding food safety and remain committed to serving you the highest quality seafood,” the eatery said in the previous post.

Lee insisted in his TikTok video, “I’ve already said a thousand times, I don’t believe in tearing down any business. But at the same time, peoples' health are on the line.”

source: people.com