Council successfully prosecutes Villa Pizza for salmonella outbreak
Dartford Borough Council has successfully brought a prosecution against the Villa Pizza restaurant at Bluewater, following a serious outbreak of salmonella poisoning, which affected diners at the restaurant in November and early December 2006.
The Health Protection Agency identified a problem when diners fell ill during late November and early December 2006, the Council’s Environmental Health Officers investigated the matter and identified the cause as an outbreak of salmonella poisoning. Those tests revealed that salmonella bacteria was present within the restaurant and with the restaurant employees. It was discovered that Spanish eggs used by the restaurant had been the source of the bacteria.
The prosecution case outlined the following findings that could have been prevented if the Defendant: had taken appropriate steps to ensure that its eggs were properly sourced; had ensured that the carbonara mixture used was cooked to an appropriate temperature and had ensured that the carbonara recipe guidance card contained appropriate advice and instructions in relation to raw eggs.
Villa Pizza was fined £21,000 by Medway Magistrates Court and ordered to pay a further £16,000 costs to Dartford Borough Council.
District Judge Michael Kelly said in summary, “These are serious offences. The victims suffered serious food poisoning, and for some, hospitalisation.”
Councillor Steve Brown, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, commented “This had been a long and complicated investigation. The conviction underlined the importance of food safety procedures being applied by all food businesses”.
