Sewage-filled rivers ‘caused oyster bug’
OYSTERS contaminated by sewage from swollen rivers could have caused a mass outbreak of the winter vomiting bug late last year.
A restaurant owned by celebrity chef Rick Stein was one of several caught up in the food safety crisis as diners fell ill after eating shellfish.
Customers became sick at Rick Stein, in Barnes, south-west London, as well as other unnamed restaurants unconnected to the chef in Cardiff,wiltshire and Hampshire.
Investigators later praised Stein’s food empire for quickly withdrawing potentially contaminated oysters from its outlets in November.
The oysters are believed to have come from Poole Harbour and a Dorset-based supplier suspended its sales for 28 days.
A probe by Public Health England has suggested norovirus as the suspected cause of the debilitating illness, which is not routinely tested in molluscs sold for eating.
The outbreak came after winter storms had caused thousands of discharges of untreated sewage into rivers, which then contaminated hundreds of beaches.
With global warming leading to extreme rainfall and flooding, sickness outbreaks have increased and it is feared that seaside tourism and the shellfish industry will be damaged if the trend continues.
Blackpool, Brighton, Southend and Scarborough were among resorts hit by pollution following summer downpours last year. Southern Water, which oversees 700 miles of coastline in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, was reported to have allowed 571 discharges. It was also fined £126million for serious failures in its treatment works. Diner Hilary Neiland, of Wandsworth, south London, was struck down after eating oysters at Rick Stein’s restaurant.
She had flown out to Amsterdam the morning after the meal and says her break was ruined, as she was confined to her hotel. She blamed water firms for the contaminated seafood. “It’s scandalous these firms make all this money but don’t invest in coping with the rain and sewage.
“Authorities say there are no suitable checks for norovirus, and even E.coli ones are once-a-month at best – and then the sewage could pour through the day after a test.”
Health and safety consultant Food Alert wrote to one victim, saying: “It appears there may have been issues regarding oysters served following the heavy rain in November.”
Public Health England said that its probe continues into cases “suspected to be norovirus”.
Jennifer Taylor, of PHE, said: “We are providing advice to prevent further illness.”
A spokesman for Richmond Council, which covers Barnes, said: “Food and Safety is happy with how quickly Rick Steins responded.”
Rick Stein restaurants was contacted for comment.