Salmonella outbreak hits pub
A pub restaurant has been closed following a salmonella outbreak which left 20 customers and seven staff seriously ill.
Environmental health officers are now carrying out an investigation to try to find the cause of the outbreak which hit the Crofter's Lodge, in Kenton Bar, Newcastle.
The pub is owned by Birmingham-based Enterprise Inns. It was bought from Swallow Hotels around six months ago.
Customers complained they were left with crippling stomach pains after eating Sunday lunch at the Crofter's Lodge two weeks ago.
Patrick Young, aged 62, told how he had eaten at the pub with his wife Paula, aged 35, as well as their daughter Stacey, aged 14.
Mr and Mrs Young said they had pork, while their daughter had beef but all three were ill.
Mr Young suffered pains that were so severe he had to be taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, where he was detained for five days.
Mr Young said: "The pub was packed out and there was lots of families there with young children.
"I developed a blood clot around one of my lungs and it now looks like I'm going to be on morphine for the next six months."
A sign is now up in the pub saying the kitchen has been closed "for refurbishment".
A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns confirmed the company owned the Crofter's Lodge but referred inquiries to Swallow's head office in Sunderland, saying they had the necessary details.
Nobody from Swallow was available for comment.
A Newcastle Council spokeswoman confirmed there had been a salmonella outbreak at the Crofter's Lodge.
She added: "Environmental health officers have carried out an investigation into the food-handling processes at the pub. The restaurant has closed down voluntarily."
by Louise Bozec louise.bozec@rbi.co.uk
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