Public Health Lawyers Welcome Investigation by Food Standards Agency

An investigation has been launched as to whether schoolchildren in up to 45 schools, in Caerphilly County Borough, were served chicken that was potentially contaminated with the harmful Listeria bacteria, which can cause listeria food poisoning.

Public Health specialists at national law firm Irwin Mitchell have welcomed the investigation launched by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), Public Health Wales and Caerphilly County Borough Council to discover the source of the contamination.

The issue was brought to light when kitchen staff, at one of the 90 schools that the meat was supplied to, reported an unpleasant odour when the cooked chicken slices were opened and removed from their packaging.

Samples were taken by the FSA and tests found that the meat was contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. As yet, no cases of illness have been reported, however it has been reported that symptoms of listeria food poisoning can take up to 70 days to show following the consumption of a contaminated product.

Jatinder Paul, an Associate Solicitor and expert in Public Health at Irwin Mitchell, who have vast experience in handling illness outbreak cases such as the Toby Carvery norovirus outbreak in 2015 where over 300 people were affected, said: 

Expert Opinion

“While it is positive that the FSA has acted quickly to investigate the source of contamination, the fact that 45 schools may have served children contaminated chicken is concerning.

“The good news so far is that there have been no reported illnesses, but it is important that parents keep an eye on their child over the next couple of months to see if any symptoms start to show.

“Symptoms of listeria food poisoning can include a high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, nausea, sickness, and diarrhoea.” Jatinder Paul - Partner