
Afternoon Tea TEAROOM is recalling the affected batch of fried items after customers complained of numbness in their tongues.
Popular Japanese cafe chain Afternoon Tea TEAROOM is appealing for customers to return items purchased at their Sendai City outlet, in the local S-Pal shopping centre, after it was confirmed that detergent had been mistakenly used instead of oil while frying a number of their doughnuts and croquettes on 15 June. The company has issued a formal apology, along with a press statement outlining details of the four types of 22 items which had been tainted: 5 Steamed Pork and Potato Doughnuts; 10 Springy Soybean Flour and Adzuki Red Bean Paste Doughnuts; 3 Cinnamon Doughnuts; and 4 Croquette Sandwiches.
According to the Sendai health clinic treating affected customers, 10 of the people they treated had complained of numbness in the tongue.
▼ Some of the tainted products include the cafe’s Cinnamon Doughnuts.
洗剤で揚げたドーナツ販売、宮城県仙台市「アフタヌーンティー・ティールーム エスパル仙台店」で洗剤5リットル混入 | 林檎舎 https://t.co/f2S1wzR6fm
— しろくま@眉毛🔞 (@zicospirits) June 17, 2016
According to the report, five litres (169 fluid ounces) of detergent, which was placed next to the fryer, was picked up by accident and mixed in with 18 litres of existing oil when frying the food prior to the store’s opening on 15 June. Afternoon Tea TEAROOM is now seeking to recall any of the above-mentioned items purchased from the store on this date, offering a full refund to customers. In accordance with administrative health care measures, the store has been closed for two days, and is due to re-open on 18 June, with the outlet working with staff and officials to ensure the incident doesn’t happen again.
If you or anyone you know has been affected by the issues, please contact the store on 022-716-7758.

Udon Doughnuts boom in popularity, get a whole new look at Japanese restaurant chain
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
New Mt. Fuji overnight bus takes travelers from downtown Tokyo straight to the most popular hiking trail
Yoshinoya and Dragon Quest slaying scalpers with shift to made-to-order collaboration merch
Tochigi man shares his family’s process for creating 16 years worth of rice paddy art
Climbing season officially opens for Japan’s Mt. Hiyoriyama, the shortest mountain in the country
Tokyo revises accommodation tax amidst tourism boom, Airbnb rentals now included
7-Eleven Japan now has Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches, but how do they taste?[Taste test]
Raw chicken dishes to be regulated by Japanese government
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Foreign tourists injured in Nissan GT-R crash near Tokyo’s Shibuya Scramble Crossing
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
A visit to Sri Lanka’s knockoff knockoff Uniqlo (no, we didn’t stutter) to see its rare “Pikachus”
Japanese overnight sightseeing train returns for summer with ramen stops and ocean views
Sanrio Character Poll announces winners, Hello Kitty absent from top 10 in many countries
Starbucks Japan teams up with Converse Tokyo for a new limited-edition collection in honour of Tanabata
Don’t judge this Kiki’s Delivery Service book by its cover, because it’s not actually a book!
7-Eleven Japan releases chocolate cookies that taste like freshly baked melon bread
The quest for Dragon Quest Yoshinoya figure sets: Worth taking for fans, tricky for scalpers[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Studio Ghibli store Donguri Republic announces opening of first-ever store in America
New Japanese overnight train coming to connect Tokyo with Tohoku in sleep-travel style
Japan launches first overnight Shinkansen bullet train between Tokyo and Osaka this summer
Japanese sweets shop sells an ohagi so exquisite it sells out by noon
Forget Tokyo go-karts – there’s a new way to sightsee on four wheels in Japan
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]