Wedding party struck down with salmonella

1:45pm Friday 31st October 2003

UP to 35 wedding guests have fallen ill with salmonella poisoning.

Tests are still ongoing after the bacteria was traced to Enzo's restaurant in Chase Side, Enfield, where they enjoyed a meal last Sunday afternoon.

Of the 43 guests, two people were rushed to hospital, including a woman in her 80s. All reported food poisoning symptoms including nausea, diaarrhoea, vomiting and fever.

Enfield Council's Food Safety Section and the Communicable Disease Control Team at North Central London Health Protection Unit are investigating.

The source of the outbreak is believed to be the use of raw egg in an uncooked product.

Guest Debbie Jerome, 50, has spent the last week in bed and lost 11 lbs in weight. Her mother, Marjorie Parkin, who is in her early 80s, has been recovering in hospital.

She believes the source of poisoning could have been the tirimasu she ate for desert.

Mrs Jerome said: "I couldn't move, I couldn't do anything, I just felt awful. It was like going to hell and back. My brother was just as bad, his symptoms started 12 hours after mine.

"Realising how bad I was, I got my two daughters to check on my mum. They went round to her house and she was as bad as you can imagine and they phoned for an ambulance."

Mrs Jerome hoped her mother, who already suffers from ill-health, having suffered three heart attacks and a stroke, would be out of hospital yesterday.

Meanwhile, a council spokesman has moved to calm fears.

He said: "All people believed to be at risk have been contacted. Therefore there is no cause for general public concern.

"Environmental health officers were able to promptly take steps to remove the risk of further infection, with the full co-operation of the business owner, who voluntarily closed for a short period."

Although many suppliers now quality assure their product, some eggs can contain salmonella bacteria which can cause serious illness, especially to the elderly, babies, toddlers and pregnant women, who may already be unwell.

However any one who eats raw eggs could be at risk.

The Food Standards Agency advise vulnerable groups to avoid foods made with raw eggs, which remain uncooked or lightly cooked.

The agency also advises caterers to use pasteurised eggs in uncooked and lightly cooked products.

If you are concerned or need further advice, contact Enfield Council on 8379 3661 or the North Central Health Protection Unit on 8272 5555.