More than 40 folks ‘poisoned’ after consuming Sunday lunch at UK pub
Public Health Wales confirmed 43 people reported illness after dining at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, with clostridium perfringens identified as the cause
Over 40 individuals have been struck down with food poisoning after dining on a Sunday roast at a pub in a quaint Welsh village.
The Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, near Maesteg, announced its temporary closure for a thorough clean-up on Monday (December 1) following reports of patrons falling ill just hours after eating there the previous day. Public Health Wales (PHW) has since confirmed that 43 people have become sick.
An investigation revealed that the outbreak was due to a food poisoning bacterium known as clostridium perfringens. The health body reported that several customers experienced symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea after their meal at the pub.
A spokesperson for Public Health Wales stated on Tuesday (December 12): “Public Health Wales, working with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and environmental health officers from shared regulatory services, is concluding its investigation into reports of illness following customers eating Sunday lunch at the Corner House Inn in Llangynwyd, Maesteg.
“We have received 43 reports of illness in people who ate food prepared at the premises. We can confirm that clostridium perfringens has been identified as the cause of this illness.
“The risk to the public is low, and we do not expect to see further cases associated with this incident.” Public Health Wales praised the establishment for tackling the matter in a “constructive and proactive way”, reports Wales Online.
In a Facebook statement, Corner House Inn’s proprietors confirmed they would keep collaborating with environmental health officials to guarantee the wellbeing of both staff and patrons. The venue remains operational.
This follows another bout of food poisoning triggered by clostridium perfringens at The Cwrt Henllys Bar and Restaurant in Cwmbran after a Sunday roast in October. The Food Standards Agency explains that “clostridium perfringens is a bacteria widespread in animals and the environment”.
Individuals fall ill after consuming tainted meat or poultry that has been left standing for extended periods. The Food Standards Agency’s website states: “The bacteria can develop spores which can survive cooking and grow during slow cooling and unrefrigerated storage.
“These spores can make you ill.” Outbreaks of C. perfringens food poisoning tend to happen in settings where large groups of people and/or food are being served and where keeping food at safe temperatures may be difficult.
“This also applies to batch cooking at home where you may leave food out to cool longer than you intended while preparing other food. People who are most likely to suffer severe symptoms are young children, pregnant women, people with an underlying health condition (e.g. cancer, diabetes, liver and kidney disease) and older people.”
A statement from the Corner House Inn read: “As you are aware we contacted environmental health ourselves to come out after people had become ill after coming to our restaurant, we have said that we will be honest throughout and will continue to do so. Environmental health has called today and made us aware that an organism (clostridium perfringens) has been found but the investigation is still ongoing.
“We are still working with them to ensure the safety of our customers and staff. The restaurant is still open during opening hours. Thank you all for your continued support.”
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