A COMPANY at the centre of a massive Melbourne Cup Day salmonella outbreak has been found guilty of failing in food safety standards, a court has heard.
It comes as the partner of a woman who died after contracting the infection during the outbreak has called for raw eggs to be “declared a hazardous substance.”
The Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday heard the bacteria was contained in one or some of the 20 raw eggs used to make five batches of mayonnaise by Piccalilli Catering in November 4, 2013.
The condiment was then used as a potato salad dressing, which was then sold to 14 separate Melbourne Cup Day functions in southeast Queensland, including one for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Magistrate Noel Noonan said despite expert evidence, “exactly how the salmonella got into the mayonnaise is unclear.” However, he added it was most likely through “horizontal transmission”, where salmonella is transferred from the shell into the egg.
The court heard 62 people became ill from eating the salad, including one woman who died from heart complications after contracting the infection at one of the functions.
Magistrate Noonan found the company had failed to pass on warnings regarding the quality of the eggs in questions, nor had they performed adequate checks on the same products.
However, he described the company as a “good corporate citizen” that “cooperated extensively with authorities” during the investigation.
It has also retained a five-star food safety rating from the local council.
After the court heard the maximum penalty was $3.5 million, Magistrate Noonan fined the parent company, Delish Foods, $50,000. They will likely also have to pay costs.
Outside court, Gail Austen told The Courier-Mail her “grief continues” after her partner, Judith Anderson, died after contracting the infection from a 2013 function catered by Delish Foods.
“I’ve never really recovered,” the 71-year-old said. “This was a very, very painful way for her to go. It really was. It was dreadful. And there was nothing the hospital could do.”
Ms Austen said she hoped the guilty conviction would send a message to people who work in the food service industry.
“I think the fact they’ve been convicted of an offence is good news for the catering industry because it sends a message to everyone who prepares food for the public that great care has to be taken.”
“I’d like to see raw eggs declared a hazardous substance.”
In a statement through a communication’s company, Delish Foods owner Helen Grace also expressed concern raw eggs were still allowed in food preparation.
“Rather than prosecuting a small business that followed all the rules, we believe the authorities should move to ban the use of raw eggs by caterers, restaurants and cafes, to ensure this kind of tragedy never happens again,” the statement read.
Source: The Courier-Mail, Tom Snowdon, 21st October 2015
Originally published as: Company fined over salmonella outbreak on Melbourne Cup day
