Mitchells and Butlers faces huge fine after turkey dinner death

28 November 2014 by
Mitchells and Butlers faces huge fine after turkey dinner death

Pub firm Mitchells and Butlers faces a major fine after the firm was found to have served unsafe food following the death of a women after a Christmas turkey dinner.

Della Callagher, 46, died two days after eating the meal at the Railway hotel in Hornchurch in east London.

She was one of 33 diners who were taken ill after a meal at the pub during the 2012 festive season.

Guests paid £39.95 for the meal, which had been cooked the day before and then reheated before it was brought to the table, according to local paper, the Romford Recorder.

Andrew Campbell-Tiech, QC, prosecuting, said the food was not allowed to cool when it was first cooked and then was not properly reheated, creating a perfect breeding ground for clostridium bacteria.

Meanwhile, the Railway's manager Ann McSweeney, 40, and chef Mehmet Kaya, 37, of Water Lane in Purfleet, Essex, were found guilty of perverting the course of justice for falsifying food safety records after the outbreak, although they were not found guilty of placing unsafe food on the market.

The pair disposed of all the waste food, preventing health inspectors from taking samples, and forged kitchen records after the outbreak, Snaresbrook Crown Court heard.

A spokesperson for Birmingham based Mitchells & Butlers said: "Mitchells & Butlers respects the court's decision.

"We have taken this matter extremely seriously, and have co-operated fully with the local authority throughout their investigations. Food safety is our highest priority and our employees are required to adhere to these stringent procedures at all times.

"Our thoughts remain with the Callagher family during this difficult time."

The business, as well as McSweeney and Kaya are expected to be sentenced on 8 January.

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