43 diners fall ill after food poisoning outbreak at Welsh pub
Public Health Wales (PHW) has confirmed that 43 people reported symptoms of food poisoning after eating Sunday lunch at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd near Maesteg.
The illnesses followed meals served on November 30 with staff at the pub alerted to the issue on December 1.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, PHW said it had identified Clostridium perfringens as the cause of the outbreak. The bacteria is known to trigger stomach cramps and diarrhoea, typically within six to twenty-four hours of consuming contaminated food.
In comments reported by the BBC, Siobhan Adams, PHW’s consultant in health protection, said the organisation had been working alongside Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board and environmental health officers to investigate the incident.
She said: “We have received 43 reports of illness in people who ate food prepared at the premises and can confirm that Clostridium perfringens has been identified as the cause."
The warning to customers
At the time of the incident, a post on social media from the pub read: "Important information for our customers
"Sadly we were informed today of some of our customers from yesterday have become unwell. We have taken all necessary steps to work with the customers and environmental health to find out the cause for this. We contacted environmental health ourselves and decided to close the business until we had the correct information.
"We have spent hours with a thorough inspection with environmental health officers today. We will remain closed tomorrow daytime to ensure the restaurant has a deep clean. Unfortunately we don’t have answers to the cause yet but environmental health are working with us to get answers. Please understand we are
trying our best to get these answers as we are devastated this has happened.
"Environmental has made us aware that norovirus is highly infectious and could have been brought in by a customer or staff. We have been given 1 recommendation and that’s to sanitise our restaurant, the kitchen has been cleared and has not had any recommendations, we need to take these measures to ensure all staff and customers are safe. Please understand we are doing all we can and we will open for normal operations tomorrow evening.
"Thanks, Gill & Wayne."
Almost a week later, the cause was found by health officials.
Another post from the pub read: "As you are aware we contacted environmental health ourselves to come out after people had become ill after coming to our restaurant, we have said that we will be honest throughout and will continue to do so.
"Environmental health has called today and made us aware that an organism (clostridium perfingens) has been found but the investigation is still ongoing.
"We are still working with them to ensure the safety of our customers and staff."
What is Clostridium perfringens?
The bacteria is widespread in animals and the environment, and its spores can survive cooking. Food poisoning typically occurs when large quantities of food are cooked, cooled slowly, or stored without proper refrigeration, allowing spores to multiply.
Symptoms usually include sudden, intense abdominal cramps and watery diarrhoea.
According to the Food Standards Agency, those most at risk of severe symptoms include young children, pregnant women, older people, and individuals with underlying health conditions such as cancer, diabetes or kidney disease.
written by abi kinsella
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43 diners fall ill after food poisoning outbreak at Welsh pub
