Tampa, FL — Food Poisoning Outbreak at Popular Local Restaurant

Tampa, FL (April 10th, 2025) – Over the course of a recent five-day span, more than 60 people reported suffering from food poisoning after eating at Yoko’s Traditional Japanese Restaurant, a popular South Tampa establishment.

Foodborne illness is a common issue in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 48 million people develop foodborne illnesses each year. Exposure to contaminated food can lead to serious health consequences.

Common Causes of Food Poisoning at Florida Restaurants

When you get sick after eating out, it’s easy to assume, like many who ate at Yoko’s Traditional Japanese Restaurant during the period in question, that it was just bad luck. In many cases, however, the issue goes deeper than a single spoiled item. Most restaurant-related food poisoning incidents happen because someone along the food chain didn’t follow basic safety protocols. 

Restaurants are legally responsible for serving food that’s safe to eat. When they cut corners, whether by using expired ingredients, skipping cleaning routines, or letting sick employees handle food, they put every customer at risk. In busy kitchens, it doesn’t take much for contamination to spread. Some of the most common factors in restaurant-related food poisoning cases include:

• Improper food handling
• Cross-contamination
• Undercooked meat
• Expired or spoiled ingredients
• Dirty kitchen surfaces or equipment
• Sick employees preparing or serving food

In the case of the illness outbreak involving customers at a South Tampa restaurant recently, inspectors with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation noted that a sick employee was sent home from work on March 30th. Reports did not indicate, however, whether that worker’s illness played a role in the food poisoning cases.

What Makes Food Poisoning Dangerous?

In mild cases, food poisoning is often just an unpleasant 24- to 48-hours. But, some infections can cause serious harm, especially in young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Due to food contaminations, customers may develop foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, E. coli, listeria, norovirus, and hepatitis A. Some of these conditions can lead to long-term health problems, while others may be fatal. 

Proving a Restaurant Caused Your Illness

It’s not enough to say, “I got sick after I ate there.” Food poisoning cases need proof that shows a clear connection between the restaurant’s food and your illness. 

Restaurants and their insurers will often push back hard. They might argue the food wasn’t to blame, or that you could’ve gotten sick somewhere else. As such, the more documentation you and your defective products lawyer have to support your claim, the stronger your case becomes. The types of proof that may aid your case include:

Medical Records

If you saw a doctor, ask for copies of your test results, diagnosis, and treatment. These types of records may help connect your illness to a specific pathogen.

Timing

The timeline matters. Foodborne illnesses usually take a few hours, or even a couple of days, to show up. Therefore, if symptoms started shortly after eating at a restaurant, that’s a key clue.

Others Got Sick Too

If more than one person from your group got sick, or there were news reports of an outbreak, it may help strengthen your case. 

In the case of at least one customer who became ill after eating at Yoko’s Traditional Japanese Restaurant, she connected her illness to her lunch at the restaurant after speaking with friends she dined with. They were experiencing the same types of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Lab Tests

Sometimes, stool samples can identify the exact bacteria or virus causing an illness. Having such lab results that match those of other customers or inspections may also help strengthen your claim. 

Who’s Legally Responsible?

A lot happens between farm and fork. While the restaurant is usually the first name on the claim, they’re not always the only ones responsible. Other businesses along the supply chain may also be held accountable if they played a role in the contamination. Some of the parties that may share liability for foodborne illnesses include:

• Food suppliers
• Distributors
• Catering companies
• Delivery services

Under Florida law, the focus is whether the food was safe, not just whether the restaurant meant well. Therefore, if you were served contaminated food and got sick, you may have a valid claim, regardless of who handled the product last.

Going up against a restaurant, or a big food distributor, on your own can be tough. These cases often require more than just a doctor’s note and a receipt. Our Clearwater personal injury lawyers at Light & Wyatt Law Group can handle the heavy lifting – investigating the incident, gathering the right records, and pushing for fair compensation. 

We have more than 30 years of experience representing Floridians like you, injured due to the negligence and recklessness of others. If you got sick after eating at a Clearwater restaurant and believe food mishandling was the cause, contact our law firm today. Call 727-499-9900 for a free initial consultation.

Jim Magazine

James (Jim) Magazine is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial lawyer who has spent his career helping injured victims. Jim is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida since 1990 and is also admitted to practice at the Appellate level and admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Years of Experience: More than 30 years
Florida Registration Status: Active
Bar Admissions:
Clearwater Bar Association
West Pasco Bar Association