Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - Singer Beyonce's mother, Tina Knowles’ pop-up restaurant was temporarily shut down at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo after a customer reported falling seriously ill.
The eatery, Mama Tina’s Gumbo, was closed on March 16 following a complaint that a customer became violently sick after eating the gumbo.
According to a report obtained by KPRC 2 News, the customer claimed they experienced severe symptoms, stating they had chills, nausea, fever and even “vomited blood” after consuming the dish. An investigation by the Houston Health Department uncovered multiple food safety violations linked to how the gumbo was prepared and handled.
Inspectors found the food had been cooked off-site, then
cooled and stored in non-food-grade containers, before being transported to an
unlicensed location for freezing. The report further stated the gumbo was later
moved to a refrigerated trailer and thawed prior to being served, raising
concerns about proper food handling procedures.
Health officials also noted several compliance failures,
including a lack of temperature logs and improper storage practices. The report
said inspectors “observed bags of frozen shrimp and crab with a label that
stated ‘keep frozen.’”
Additionally, authorities found that some food sources used
after the first day were not listed on the approved permit, and meals prepared
more than 24 hours in advance were not properly dated.
Despite the violations, officials described the issue as
quickly resolved. The operators cooperated with inspectors and were educated on
proper food safety measures, including rapid cooling, thawing procedures and
date marking.
They also agreed to stop preparing food off-site and
switched to appropriate freezing equipment. The closure was short-lived, with
Mama Tina’s Gumbo cleared to reopen the following day and continue serving at
the event through March 22. Beyonce has not publicly commented on the incident.
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