Stakis refutes £100,000 poison claim

A woman who claims that she suffered food poisoning which led to a debilitating heart condition has launched a £100,000 compensation claim against Stakis in the High Court.

Gaynor Doyle has issued a writ alleging that she contracted food poisoning after eating sliced duck and smoked salmon at the company's hotel in Newport, Gwent, in March 1992.

Shortly after this, she developed a secondary infection which led to a heart condition and is now unable to work, drive long distances, or do normal household tasks.

The writ claims the hotel was negligent in failing to ensure that the duck and the smoked salmon were of "merchantable" quality and free from contamination.

A spokesman for Stakis said the company had been unable to find evidence in support of the claim at the time and strongly denied the allegations.