A recent outbreak of illness among customers of Kayama, a restaurant in Zola Predosa, Italy, has been attributed to norovirus, not food poisoning, according to the restaurant’s owners and local health authorities.
Osaka Snc, the company that owns Kayama, responded to earlier reports of potential foodborne illness following several customer complaints last weekend. The owners stated, “It was not a case of food poisoning.”
The local health authority, Ausl, confirmed that the illnesses are consistent with an epidemic of norovirus, as supported by hospital analysis of affected patients. Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea and can spread easily through contaminated food, water, or surfaces. Understanding how these viruses spread is crucial for preventing future outbreaks and protecting public health.
According to the restaurant owners, neither the Carabinieri (Italian military police) nor the Nas (special unit of the Carabinieri dedicated to anti-adulteration and health protection) investigated the incident. “The only authority that intervened was the Ausl, within the scope of normal health procedures for epidemiological verification,” they said.
Investigations similarly included testing of restaurant staff, with some members testing positive for the virus. This finding further supports the conclusion that the outbreak was viral in nature, rather than caused by food contamination.
The restaurant remains closed as of March 8, 2026, while Ausl continues its investigation. The owners expressed concern that initial reports contained inaccurate information that is damaging to the restaurant’s reputation.
The Istituto Superiore di Sanità (Italian National Institute of Health) explains that norovirus transmission occurs directly from person to person, through contaminated water or food, or by contact with contaminated surfaces. The institute emphasizes that “the only effective form of control of norovirus is the implementation of rigorous hygiene measures in the handling and distribution of food and beverages.”
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Ausl, not Nas, ordered the restaurant’s closure, and this inaccuracy has been acknowledged.
