Fat Duck diners were poisoned by sewage

By STAFF REPORTER

Published: 10 Sep 2009

A FOOD poisoning epidemic that struck down almost 600 diners at Heston Blumenthal's award-winning Fat Duck restaurant was caused by raw shellfish polluted by HUMAN SEWAGE.

During January and February hundreds of guests — including TV sports commentator Jim Rosenthal and boxing promoter Frank Warren — suffered diarrhoea and vomiting after visiting the posh eatery.

Health inspectors probing the outbreak released a report today confirming that diners were hit by the norovirus bug.

Outbreak ... nearly 600 diners became ill over a six-week period

And shockingly the Health Protection Agency also concluded that the outbreak continued to affect diners for SIX WEEKS because sick staff continued to turn up to work and handle the shellfish.

Unsuitable products were also said to have been used to clean kitchen surfaces.

The report into the world-renowned restaurant, in Bray, Berks, said: "There was a large outbreak of food poisoning among diners at the Fat Duck Restaurant in January and February 2009, with more than 500 reporting illness.

"The organism responsible was norovirus which was probably introduced via shellfish.

"Oysters were served raw, razor clams may not have been appropriately handled or cooked and the tracing of shellfish to source showed evidence of contamination.

"The outbreak continued for at least six weeks because of ongoing transmission at the restaurant - which may have occurred through continuous contamination of foods prepared in the restaurant or by person-to-person spread between staff and diners or a mixture of both."

Following the investigation into the outbreak, which caused 529 people to report illnesses, health officers from the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead allowed the restaurant to reopen in March.

It has since gone on to top the 2010 Good Food Guide.

HPA South East Regional Director, Dr Graham Bickler, said: "This investigation has been long, complex and thorough.

"It confirms the well-known risks that raw shellfish pose. Oysters and other shellfish can become contaminated with norovirus originating from human sewage, especially during winter months."

Source