A sushi takeout chain has initiated an investigation after a customer found a suspected worm in a box of salmon sushi sold at a branch in Tsuen Wan.

A photo taken by a Threads user showing a suspected worm in a box of sushi from Sushi Express. Photo: johnsonyip24, via Threads.

Sushi Express Hong Kong said in a Facebook post on Sunday that it had sent a sample for third-party testing, and that it would publicise the results when they are available.

“Food safety is our most important principle. We will follow up, and we thank everyone for their attention and feedback,” the post, written in Chinese, read.

On Friday, a user on social media platform Threads posted a photo of a box of salmon sushi with what appeared to be a worm.

He said he was at Sushi Express in Nina Mall, a shopping centre in Tsuen Wan, when he noticed something moving in the box.

“Told staff, and they insisted it was not [a worm]. I said clearly that it was moving! [They] still said it wasn’t,” his Threads post, in Chinese, read.

He said he placed the sushi back and left.

HKFP has reached out to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department for comment.

Past controversies

It is not the first time Sushi Express has been embroiled in food safety controversies.

Last July, media reported that local branches of the Taiwanese chain left cooked rice outside the refrigerator for over 16 hours without temperature control.

Nina Mall 2 in Tsuen Wan. Photo: GovHK.

In response to enquiries, Sushi Express defended itself without denying the accusations, saying that it uses insulated boxes to transport its rice and a tamper-proof system to ensure the boxes do not get opened during transportation.

Last May, a customer at a Yuen Long branch bought tamagoyaki – an egg omelette roll – that was believed to have grown mould. Sushi Express said it “regretted the inconvenience” caused by the incident.

In a social media post, the chain said it suspended the sales of tamagoyaki from that branch for the day, and that those with concerns may ask for a refund.

It also added that staff had deep cleaned the store and also inspected hygiene conditions at other branches.