Above is a raw oyster dish served at The Fat Duck, this may have been how it all started.
The vomiting and diarrhea that possessed patrons at one of Britain's most famous restaurants was caused by a virus that the country's Health Protection Agency says was probably introduced by contaminated shellfish.
But not only the shellfish!
Britain’s Health Protection Agency has said that the illness and workers at The Fat Duck, was caused by bad shellfish and poor hygiene.
Several weaknesses in procedures at the restaurant may have contributed to ongoing transmission. These included a delayed response to the incident, staff working when they should have been off sick, and the wrong environmental cleaning products being used.
In its response, the Fat Duck said:
"The restaurant had absolutely no knowledge of any staff returning to work whilst ill or infectious. Indeed our employee literature clearly states that no staff member should return to work before the 48 hour clearance."
As for the cleaning products, the restaurant said, “All materials used are of industry standard.’’
The report also said that the source of oysters that were served “showed evidence for contamination; and outbreaks of illness in other establishments have been associated with oysters from the same source.’’ Also, the report said, “razor clams may not have been appropriately handled or cooked.’’
Apparently, the report said, the Fat Duck changed razor clam suppliers in January 2009, and researchers found low-levels of norovirus in razor clams later bought from that supplier. Oysters from the same source were also found to have norovirus.
Six workers also tested positive for norovirus and may have contributed to its spread, particularly in the “cooked razor clams and langoustine cream,” which are served off of the $217 tasting menu. The illness caused nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
The Fat Duck’s chef, Heston Blumenthal, reopened the restaurant in March. He estimated the restaurant, which has three Michelin stars, lost around $167,000.The Fat Duck, a three-star Michelin restaurant staring celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, was closed for more than two weeks in February after more than 500 of diners became ill.
The family-run fishery that provided the oysters blamed for an outbreak of food poisoning has blamed poor sewage treatment at a nearby plant for the contamination.
