A couple was fined $42,000 for causing what has been called the worst food poisoning outbreak in New South Wales, Australia recently.
Reports say Long and Linda Fou, former owners of the Homebush French Golden Hot Bakery led to 319 people falling ill in 2007. They ultimately pleaded guilty to four charges of handling and selling unsafe food.
An investigation by the NSW Food Authority found that the source of the food poisoning was mayonnaise. The condiment, which was used for Vietnamese-style pork and chicken rolls, was stored at temperatures at least double what health guidelines require, causing dangerous Salmonella bacteria to multiply rapidly, report say.
The Fous had been warned previously of their poor food handling practices, but failed to change the way they stored the mayonnaise, reports say. The topping was homemade, meaning it was even more susceptible to bacterial corruption. In fact, the Fous had reportedly received an improvement notice instructing them to use commercially-made pasteurized mayonnaise instead of high-risk raw egg product made on the bakery premises.
Although this incident occurred in Australia, there are cases like this reported in the United States every year. If you have been involved in a food-health related accident, the offices of Attorney Jimmy Doan can help. With lengthy experience in personal injury litigation, The Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, can help. Contact The Doan Law Firm at 1 Riverway, Suite 2055, Houston, Texas 77056, (713) 869-4747 or (800) 910-FIRM.