Sickness outbreak after Royal College of Art graduation

A GRADUATION ceremony for the Royal College of Art is being investigated by Public Health England after 200 people were struck down with food poisoning following a buffet.

Health officials said yesterday that it was investigating the causes of the stomach sickness after the event at the London university.

Peter Gabriel, the musician, received an honorary degree at the Royal Albert Hall ceremony attended by hundreds of students and their families on Friday, and many went to a buffet at the university afterwards.

Richard Benson, the RCA chief operating officer, said: “We have received reports from approximately 200 students, guests and staff who suffered gastrointestinal illness over the weekend, following the college buffet reception on Friday. This was clearly very unfortunate, and for some of the students and their families was a really unpleasant end to what should have been a day of celebration.”

In an email to students, he added: “The symptoms appear consistent with food poisoning.” Canteens at its campuses in Kensington, White City and Battersea have closed as a precaution.