- Masa is famously one of the most expensive restaurants in America, with a $595-a-person tasting menu.
- One importer that supplies the fish for the restaurant was found to be in "serious violations" of seafood safety rules after an FDA inspection.
- The restaurant says it is taking the allegation seriously and launching its own investigation.
A supplier to ultra-high-end sushi palace Masa has allegedly been playing dirty.
The restaurant was recently served with a letter from the FDA, which accused one if its importers of "serious violations" of food safety rules. Allegations include using fish "prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions," which the FDA apparently found during a recent investigation of one of the restaurant's suppliers.
Skipjack tuna was one of the fish named as potentially compromised, according to Eater.
Masa is the most expensive restaurant in New York City - and one of the priciest in America - and it's run by famed chef Masa Takayama. Its tasting menu is offered for $595 a person. The FDA said that the fish from Masa's supplier could be "injurious to health."
A restaurant spokesperson told Business Insider in a 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."
Masa has 30 days to respond to the FDA, after which the agency will confiscate all its fish.