Food poisoning on the menu for wedding guests
A local company which provided catering at two wedding receptions where 93 guests were poisoned has received a hefty fine, following an investigation by Ealing Council.
Super Restaurants Limited, of Roslin Road, Acton pleaded guilty to one offence of placing food on the market that was unsafe and five other food hygiene related offences at Ealing Magistrates Court on Thursday, 11 November. The company was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay the council’s costs of £10,312.
The company had been hired to provide food for two wedding receptions with an estimated 500 guests at venues in Chelsea and Westminster.
Ealing Council’s Regulatory Services officers investigated following complaints that nearly 100 guests had fallen ill with similar symptoms including abdominal cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea. Samples tested by the Health Protection Agency showed higher than normal levels of bacteria including E-coli and Salmonella, which could have contributed to the outbreak of food poisoning.
Councillor Ranjit Dheer, cabinet member for Safer Communities, said: “We are very pleased with the court’s decision. The company was responsible for ruining two wedding receptions and putting the health of nearly 500 people at risk; this is just not acceptable. We will not tolerate anyone producing or selling unsafe goods and will continue to take action against anyone caught breaking the law.”
The company pleaded guilty to the offence of placing food on the market that was unsafe under the General Food Regulations 2004 and to the following offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006:
• Staff working in the food handling area failing to maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness and wearing suitable, clean and where necessary protective clothing.
• Failing to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition.
• Food handlers not being supervised and trained in food hygiene matters
• Failure to put in place, implement and maintain permanent procedures based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles
• Those responsible for the development of HACCP not having received adequate training in processes and procedures.
Residents with concerns about food they have purchased or eaten out which they believe is not safe can contact the council’s food hygiene officers on 020 8825 6666 or log on to www.ealing.gov.uk for more information.
24th November 2010
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