Beyoncé's Mum's Gumbo Stand Reopens After Food Poisoning Claims and Hospital Trip Allegations

Beyonce's mum, Tina Knowles' family's long-cherished gumbo recipe — better known to the world as Mama Tina's Gumbo, went public at the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and went viral.

With the rodeo running through 22 March, fans have been flocking to the booth to get a taste of her legendary 20-hour stew. As the mother of one of Hollywood's biggest icons, high expectations were inevitable—and the internet is never shy about an honest review.

Last time, Mama Tina's gumbo received a terrible review from its customer, saying that 'it tastes like water.'

Now, her gumbo stand was shut down over customer's food poisoning claims and allegations of hospital trips, but after a brief closure, reports indicate that it's back to its full operations at the rodeo and ready to serve customers.

Mama Tina's Signature Creole Dish

Mama Tina takes immense pride in her signature Creole dish, saying it's the singer's favourite. The dish is a true labour of love, taking a staggering 20 hours to prepare from scratch—a meticulous process that has only added to the frenzy of fans queuing at the 2026 Houston Rodeo

Rodeo-goers can choose between two options: a $25 (£19) seafood bowl packed with beef sausage, chicken, shrimp, and blue crab, or a $23 (£18) chicken-and-sausage version.

'Food Intoxication' Claims

However, the hype surrounding Mama Tina's 20-hour gumbo took a dramatic turn this week after viral posts alleging serious health concerns took the internet by storm. One X user sparked a frenzy by claiming they had filed a formal complaint with the health department after suffering from 'food intoxication' shortly after visiting the booth.

It appears this wasn't an isolated case. Another X user, honey ✰ (@thehoneyrow), shared a distressing photo of what appeared to be a hospital bed, issuing a blunt warning: 'DO NOT EAT MAMA TINA GUMBO.' The post was a shocking reversal for the fan, who had previously posted about her excitement to travel to Houston specifically for the review.

She wasn't alone in her claims. Another user, JM 🦅 (@215GOAT), echoed the sentiment, posting a photo of himself seemingly hooked up to a machine with IV fluids. His caption was equally urgent: 'YALL DO NOT EAT THAT TINA KNOWLES GUMBO.'

While the Houston Health Department has yet to officially confirm any hospitalisations linked to the booth, these viral 'proof' photos have become the focal point of the growing scandal.

Mama Tina's Gumbo Reopens after Brief Closure

On Monday, 16 March, the Houston Health Department issued a temporary closure of Mama Tina's Gumbo at the rodeo, though the booth was authorised to reopen shortly thereafter.

The Houston Health Department released the following statement regarding the incident:

'On Monday, March 16, 2026, the Houston Health Department issued a temporary closure of Mama Tina's Gumbo booth at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo as a result of a complaint investigation. The vendor was cooperative with the department's recommendations and passed a subsequent inspection. It was authorized to reopen on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.'

While officials did not confirm a direct link between the 'hospital trip' claims and the shutdown, citing 'clerical issues' and permit discrepancies as the primary factors, the timing of the investigation has added to the intense scrutiny surrounding the celebrity vendor.

Originally published on IBTimes UK