![Mama Tina’s Gumbo Health Report Reveals Food Was Prepped Off-Site in Buckets and Seafood Was Thawed Despite “Keep Frozen” Labels [Video]](https://balleralert.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Untitled-design-2026-03-18T165944586.png "Mama Tina’s Gumbo Health Report Reveals Food Was Prepped Off-Site in Buckets and Seafood Was Thawed Despite “Keep Frozen” Labels [Video] - Baller Alert")
Mama Tina’s Gumbo ran into trouble this week at the Houston Rodeo, with a brief shutdown halting operations.
The Houston Health Department confirmed that “Mama Tina’s Gumbo,” owned by Tina Knowles, was temporarily shut down during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Knowles, widely recognized as Beyoncé’s mother, introduced the Creole dish as part of a family recipe she says she has perfected over decades.
The booth quickly became a high-interest stop for rodeo attendees eager to try a meal connected to the Knowles family. However, operations were halted on Monday before resuming on Wednesday. Officials have not publicly disclosed the exact reason for the temporary closure.
In a statement, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo emphasized compliance requirements for all vendors, stating, “All Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo exhibitors must comply with all the rules, regulations, and requirements of the Fire Marshal, the City of Houston Health Department, and any governmental entity having jurisdiction over these premises.”
Organizers also noted that the issue did not appear to be severe, adding, “To our knowledge, Mama Tina’s has been cooperative with the City of Houston Health Department and has worked closely with them to address the identified clerical issues. Mama Tina’s has since reopened under the guidance of the Houston Health Department.”
Social media users have been sharing their experiences with Mama Tina’s Gumbo, with many praising the flavor and family recipe. However, some posts have claimed the gumbo was not appetizing, with several instances of people feeling sick after eating the dish. It remains unclear whether those claims reflect verified issues or online trolling, but the added chatter, combined with the temporary closure, has fueled ongoing conversation around the booth.
Despite the brief shutdown, the booth’s reopening allows visitors to once again sample the widely talked-about gumbo, which continues to draw crowds at one of Houston’s biggest annual events.
