CWMBRAN, Wales – A public health investigation has confirmed 19 cases of food poisoning linked to a carvery meal served at a local pub earlier this month, with the cause identified as a bacteria that can grow when cooked food is left to cool improperly.
Torfaen Council launched an investigation after numerous reports of customers feeling unwell after eating at the Cwrt Henllys Bar & Restaurant on October 5. The council confirmed this week that the illness was caused by Clostridium perfringens, a bacteria commonly associated with food that has been cooled too slowly after cooking.
In a statement, the council confirmed that the cause was identified and that there is no wider risk to the public. No further cases have been reported following their investigation.
The confirmed cases are a fraction of the initial reports, which suggested more than 50 people had fallen ill with suspected food poisoning after the carvery.
Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria found in the environment and in animals. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), its spores can survive cooking and then multiply to dangerous levels if food is left to cool at room temperature for too long, particularly in large batches.
“Outbreaks of C. perfringens food poisoning tend to happen in settings where large groups of people and/or food are being served and where keeping food at safe temperatures may be difficult,” the FSA states on its website.
In a statement posted on social media, the Cwrt Henllys Bar & Restaurant addressed the incident. The establishment stated it served approximately 200 people on the day in question and has since made “positive changes” to its processes.
“We have changed processes so that there will never be a ‘cooling down’ period,” the pub’s statement said, adding that its kitchen was never advised to close and that there has never been a further risk to the public.
The restaurant also noted it had pursued a potential issue with a supplier regarding concerns about contaminated turkey but had not received a positive test result to confirm that theory. The pub has asked anyone with a confirmed positive test result to contact them directly to discuss the matter further.
