Poblacion oyster bar Wantusawa is under heavy criticism following food poisoning complaints from customers. What does the restaurant have to say about all this?

Facebook user calls out Wantusawa

Last January 23, Facebook user Coco Eje took screenshots of the alarming number of diners complaining about food poisoning after dining at Wantusawa.

“Wantusawa I would leave a review on your page but I’m afraid it’s just gonna be shrugged off like all the other reviews that are already there. This needs urgent action,” read the post’s caption.

“For public awareness and for the sake of honesty: the food is good but look at all these food poisoning complaints the past three weeks alone. Are all of these still isolated cases?,” added Eje.

The screenshots were from customers leaving bad reviews on Wantusawa’s official Facebook page. They all went through a similar ordeal: Eating at the restaurant and afterward experiencing forms of abdominal cramps, nausea, bloating, and diarrhea.

The reviews tell a terrible story

Wantusawa currently has a 2.7 rating with 995 reviews on their Facebook page and most of these don’t paint a pretty picture. While some say the oysters tasted good, the aftermath wasn’t worth risking it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the common symptoms of food poisoning are diarrhea, stomach pain or cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever. These look like they tick the boxes of what Wantusawa diners have experienced.

Here are some reviews detailing alleged food poisoning:

Diners also complained about poor service

Aside from food poisoning reviews, diners also had comments about the slow service and rude servers:

“I don’t usually write reviews like this but I just had the worst experience ever here at Wantusawa. The service was horrid! So slow! The servers were not taking orders and just kept walking past every crowded table! Excuses after excuses!” reads one review.

“I dined here earlier this month, and although I did not get food poisoning like many others, the service was terrible. The staff was rude and prioritized certain tables to the detriment of the rest,” said another.

Wantusawa issues a statement

Wantusawa addressed the issue through an official statement posted on January 25. It assured everyone that the complaints and allegations “will be taken seriously, investigated thoroughly, and dealt with fairly in a timely manner.”

The oyster bar also said that it’s dealing with the issue in a “fair and scientific manner.”

“In fact, laboratory tests conducted on samples for those dates formally complained of have shown a negative result for bacteria and thus clearing the possibility of any food poisoning,” said the statement.

Wantusawa management also claimed to be bullied on social media and said they will take legal action against those who continue to do so.

“It is unfortunate that despite our efforts, laboratory tests, and health clearances, social media bullying against us has continued. In our pursuit of truth and due process, we shall likewise review our options to take any legal action against these purveyors of bullying and untruth,” it said.

As of writing, the post has garnered 2.9k reactions. Wantusawa turned off comments for the post but netizens still expressed their dismay over the statement.

“Oh God, this is what you called Gaslighting on sight, caught in 4k,” said one.

“This statement reeks of zero accountability. Its more of a threat than an apology lol,” said another.

“Wantusawa‘s Official Statement is just plain insensitive, intimidating, and mean-spirited,” said another. “They seem to assume that the professionals who regularly dine in their establishment are online trolls and bullies. Their management also seems to dismiss the fact that more than twenty people from different tables, who ate fresh oysters there last weekend, got food poisoning at the same time.”

What do you think about these Wantusawa food poisoning allegations?

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