Seattle officials probe food safety violations at Indian restaurant after illness outbreak

SEATTLE — An outbreak of gastrointestinal illness linked to Thanksgiving meals from Kanishka Cuisine of India in Seattle has affected 35 people, prompting a public health investigation.

The illnesses, which began between Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, 2025, are associated with the restaurant’s “Fusion Thanksgiving Feast,” prepared for customer pickup or delivery. Although no specific food or drink has been identified as the cause, the symptoms align with those caused by bacterial toxins, which can develop when food is improperly stored at room temperature.

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Public Health officials have conducted interviews with 16 affected people to gather information on their symptoms and food consumption. Symptoms reported include diarrhea, stomach pains, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, and body aches. Fortunately, no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported, and no restaurant workers have shown signs of illness.

During a Dec. 2 inspection, several food safety violations were identified at Kanishka Cuisine of India, including inadequate equipment and space for safely preparing the large volume of food required for the feast, improper cooling methods, and failure to maintain safe food temperatures.

Despite educational efforts and a follow-up visit on Dec. 4, the restaurant continued to exhibit unsafe food handling practices, leading to its temporary closure. The establishment is now discarding unsafe food and retraining staff on proper food safety protocols.

Laboratory tests on four people affected by the outbreak returned negative for common gastrointestinal pathogens such as norovirus, Salmonella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. However, these tests do not detect bacteria that produce toxins, such as Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens, which are known to cause rapid-onset foodborne illness.

Public Health advises the public to report any suspected foodborne illnesses and to file complaints about food safety violations.

For those who may have consumed food from Kanishka Cuisine of India and are experiencing symptoms, contact Public Health at 206-296-4774 or toll-free at 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4774, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.