Food poisoning at the Sushi Train restaurant in Nashville

The Sushi Train restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, is the site of a suspected food poisoning outbreak. At least twelve customers reported food poisoning symptoms after eating at the restaurant between late March and late April. The Tennessean obtained a report on the case from public health authorities. The document does not specify the type of symptoms, but their rapid onset suggests norovirus, Staphylococcus aureus, or Bacillus cereus as the pathogen responsible for the poisoning. The Sushi Train restaurant had several health and safety issues in the past. This April, it received a grade of 71 in a routine inspection, with food presented or stored at temperatures much higher than those deemed safe. The sushi displayed on the conveyor belt, for example, was recorded at 60° F, and the crabmeat was stored in the back area at 50°F. The maximum safe temperature for perishable foods is 40° F. Beyond that temperature, bacteria can grow rapidly in minutes. Other issues found by the inspectors were raw eggs stored above a case of tomatoes, a dishwasher with a low temperature, ingredient bins in the back storage area that were not covered, and a backflow device leaking “profusely” at the mop sink.