FDA Warns Masa That It’s Using Potentially ‘Insanitary’ Tuna

Uber-expensive and high-end sushi temple Masa might be using tuna that’s not totally safe, according to the FDA.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to the Time Warner Center restaurant from chef Masa Takayama, saying a recent inspection of one of Masa’s seafood importers found “serious violations” of seafood safety rules. Law360 first reported the news.

The three Michelin-starred restaurant — also known as the country’s most expensive restaurant with $595 tasting menus — may be using skipjack tuna that has been “prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby they may have been rendered injurious to health,” the warning letter says.

Masa must implement steps to ensure that all the fish it imports follows safety rules, the FDA letter says. If the restaurant does not respond before the end of the month, the FDA could take all of the restaurant’s products for the violation.

The restaurant did not immediately return a request for comment. Update: Masa issued the following statement: “We take FDA regulations very seriously and of course food safety is always a priority. We are working closely with our purveyors in Japan to get this resolved quickly.”

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