A beloved, high-profile Belize City dining destination finds itself at the center of a heated social media controversy, with owners stepping forward to categorically deny a string of serious accusations ranging from unauthorized imports to unsafe food handling and financial wrongdoing.
The viral online claims that erupted in late April 2026 pushed Midtown Restaurant and its owner Jhon Kelat to issue a public, point-by-point refutation of the allegations, as public scrutiny of the popular eatery grew steadily. Kelat emphasized that every allegation leveled against the business is entirely fabricated, and he has official documentation on hand to confirm the restaurant’s full compliance with all national regulations.
Kelat explained that much of the confusion around import procedures stems from the fact that only core management holds access to official customs and import permits, not the delivery and loading staff that shared the claims online. “These are totally false, targeted attacks on our company, and we are deeply disappointed to see this spread across social media without any fact-checking,” Kelat stated in an interview with News Five’s Shane Williams.
Beyond import allegations, the viral social media campaign also included claims that Midtown uses and stores spoiled meat, violating public health standards. Kelat addressed this by contextualizing the out-of-context video that was shared widely online: the footage captured a routine weekly after-hours pest control treatment, a standard preventive practice the restaurant uses to maintain cleanliness, not evidence of unsanitary conditions. After spraying, staff inspect the premises the following morning to identify areas that need additional monitoring and cleaning, a process designed to upskill staff and maintain high hygiene standards. “Anyone watching the full video can clearly see all insects are dead, and this took place after closing hours during scheduled cleaning, not during operating hours. Every restaurant follows this basic protocol,” Kelat added.
Kelat also clarified the viral image circulated as “spoiled meat”: the product shown is actually pre-cooked ribs pre-seasoned with mango sauce, which gives the meat its characteristic darker hue. A quick check of the supplier’s official website confirms the packaging matches the image exactly, proving the product is safe, unspoiled, and commercially produced as labeled. Claims that Midtown stores food in unregulated, off-book locations are equally misleading, Kelat said, noting the images shared online were selectively edited to fit a false narrative about the business.
According to Kelat, the entire smear campaign traces back to a disgruntled former employee who violated his employment contract by leaving Midtown to take a position at a competing restaurant. After Midtown notified the Belizean Labour Department and other relevant authorities of the contract breach, the employee’s work permit was canceled. This retaliatory campaign of falsehoods is the former employee’s response, Kelat argued. The social media page that published the allegations never reached out to Midtown for comment or requested to view the restaurant’s official permits and documentation, making the entire post unprofessional and unethical, he added.
Midtown has already confirmed it is fully willing to turn over all relevant documentation to government regulators and credible media outlets to clear its name. The establishment is also actively evaluating legal action against the individuals responsible for spreading what it confirms is knowingly false information. The unsubstantiated claims have taken an emotional toll on Midtown’s team of employees, who have worked for years to build the restaurant’s strong, positive reputation among local diners and visitors alike.