Dozens of guests who dined at the upscale Stockholm restaurant Coco & Carmen have fallen ill with listeria infections, with health authorities confirming at least four cases of sepsis among the affected patrons. The outbreak has resulted in approximately 80-81 formal complaints filed with Stockholm's environmental administration regarding food poisoning, with symptoms including high fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and headaches appearing approximately 24 hours after dining at the establishment.

Health officials have expanded their investigation beyond the initial timeframe of September 25-27 to include guests who visited the restaurant on September 23-24, contacting approximately 400 people as part of the expanded tracing efforts. Currently, about 15 patients remain hospitalized, though none have required intensive care according to Maria Rotzén Östlund, an infectious disease physician with Region Stockholm. The condition of hospitalized patients varies, with some already recovering from their symptoms.

The restaurant's co-owner and chef Joakim Almquist expressed shock at the situation, stating in an email that the establishment is "distressed by what has occurred and hopes those affected recover quickly." Guests from multiple regions including Gothenburg, Örebro, and Uppsala have been identified among those infected, with many reporting severe illness lasting several days. One complainant described the experience as "torture," noting that they and their spouse had never felt so ill for such an extended period.

Coco & Carmen has temporarily closed during the investigation but is expected to reopen next week. Health authorities note that while listeria outbreaks in restaurants are uncommon, previous cases have been documented in medical literature. The exact source of the contamination remains unknown, though some guests have speculated about potential issues with shrimp served as part of the 14-course tasting menu that appears common to all complaints.

Oslo police have issued a stark warning to parents about the dangers of encrypted messaging applications on children's phones, stating there is "no reason" for minors to use such services. During a digital parenting meeting streamed online Sunday afternoon, authorities highlighted how platforms including Telegram, Signal, WhatsApp, and Zangi are being exploited by criminal networks to recruit young people for serious offenses.

Section leader Astri Johanne Holm of Oslo East's local police station emphasized that adults have been "too naive" about children's online activities. "Be interested in what your child is doing on social platforms," Holm advised parents. "There's no reason for a child or youth to walk around with an encrypted app on their phone." The warning comes amid growing concerns about criminal groups targeting vulnerable minors through digital channels.

Recent police operations have resulted in multiple arrests of underage individuals across Norway, with cases linked to criminal networks including Sweden's Foxtrot network. Authorities report that children as young as eleven are being recruited for criminal activities. Holm noted that while many people use encrypted apps legally to protect privacy, criminals exploit these platforms to avoid scrutiny from both police and parents.

The digital parenting event attracted significant public interest, with between 5,000 and 10,000 people following the broadcast across Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Discord platforms. During the session, parents submitted over 200 questions about monitoring children's online activity without violating their privacy. Police recommended maintaining open dialogue and curiosity about children's apps and interests as the best prevention strategy, while also implementing broader measures including collaboration with child protection services and schools.