Nearly 30 people contracted a previously unreported strain of Salmonella at Palm by H2O restaurant in Coventry, with the owner later fined thousands after pleading guilty to food safety offences
Several punters were rushed to hospital with severe symptoms after nearly 30 diners were struck down with food poisoning from a restaurant showing “a total lack of food hygiene”. The outbreak saw 29 people report serious food poisoning symptoms after dining at Palm by H20 in Coventry. Customers became ‘very ill’ after eating at the Spon Street establishment in June 2024.
Coventry City Council launched a major probe alongside the UK Health Security Agency. Tests revealed that 17 out of 18 stool samples collected contained the same strain of Salmonella, previously unreported in the UK.
“Sadly, the food poisoning outbreak has had a profound and long-lasting effect upon many of the individuals who contracted the Salmonella strain and many of them are still suffering now with physical and mental repercussions of their diagnoses,” said a statement from Coventry City Council.
“The people became very ill after eating at Palm by H2O. Given the absence of measures in place to prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen, and the total lack of food hygiene understanding demonstrated by those working at the restaurant, especially concerning the storage and handling of raw meat, this is unfortunately unsurprising.”
Health inspectors discovered numerous instances of poor hygiene practices at a restaurant, including inadequate hand washing and insufficient training, according to Coventry Live. The council reported that staff also demonstrated a lack of understanding about the risks associated with storing and handling raw meat, leading to food contamination.
The owner, Mohammed Naveed, voluntarily agreed to close Palm by H20 until improvements in food safety standards were made. As a result of these issues, inspectors reduced its hygiene rating from the highest score of 5 to just 1.
Mohammed Naveed was fined £6,500 and ordered to pay additional costs of £10,186 and a victim surcharge of £2,000 when he appeared for sentencing at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 9 December. He had previously pleaded guilty to multiple food safety offences in September.
In addition, the business, Palm by H2O Limited, located at 10 Spon Street, was fined a total of £10,000 and instructed to pay costs of £10,186.55 plus a £2,000 victim surcharge.
Mr Naveed requested a rescoring and, following sustained improvements, Palm by H20 was awarded a five-star rating in August 2024. Officers revisited the establishment on 14 January this year and confirmed that high standards had been maintained, allowing the restaurant to retain its top rating.
Davina Blackburn, Strategic Lead for Regulation and Communities, stated: “We take a staged approach to enforcement, and prosecution is a matter of last resort. Wherever possible, officers will always try to work with businesses, offering advice and guidance, but will take the necessary actions if they feel there is a risk to health.
“It is vital that people running food businesses in Coventry are running clean and safe establishments all of the time to ensure the safety of the food they sell to customers.”
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