
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.

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