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E.coli abattoir 'was UK's worst' E.coli abattoir 'was UK's worst'
(about 2 hours later)
The slaughterhouse which supplied the butcher responsible for the south Wales E.coli outbreak had the worst hygiene record in the UK, an inquiry has heard.The slaughterhouse which supplied the butcher responsible for the south Wales E.coli outbreak had the worst hygiene record in the UK, an inquiry has heard.
JE Tudor in Treorchy, Rhondda, scored 11 out of 100 in a hygiene assessment in August 1994, the lowest ever.JE Tudor in Treorchy, Rhondda, scored 11 out of 100 in a hygiene assessment in August 1994, the lowest ever.
The abattoir was run by the cousin of William Tudor, the Bridgend butcher jailed for supplying contaminated meat.The abattoir was run by the cousin of William Tudor, the Bridgend butcher jailed for supplying contaminated meat.
But the Cardiff inquiry was told a recommendation to revoke its licence was declined. But the Cardiff public inquiry was told a recommendation to revoke its licence was declined.
A boy of five died in the outbreak in schools in autumn 2005 and 150 adults and children became ill.A boy of five died in the outbreak in schools in autumn 2005 and 150 adults and children became ill.
The outbreak inquiry heard evidence from meat hygiene inspectors that conditions at the abattoir in were "deteriorating rapidly" in the years leading up to the E.coli outbreak.The outbreak inquiry heard evidence from meat hygiene inspectors that conditions at the abattoir in were "deteriorating rapidly" in the years leading up to the E.coli outbreak.
Move premisesMove premises
The inquiry sitting in Cardiff Bay heard that problems were identified at the slaughterhouse as far back as 1994 when a recommendation was made to revoke the operating licence.The inquiry sitting in Cardiff Bay heard that problems were identified at the slaughterhouse as far back as 1994 when a recommendation was made to revoke the operating licence.
But the then secretary of state for Wales declined the recommendation.But the then secretary of state for Wales declined the recommendation.
The inquiry heard that the firm continued to operate, saying that it eventually planned to move premises.The inquiry heard that the firm continued to operate, saying that it eventually planned to move premises.
The inquiry also heard how a catalogue of problems were never rectified by the slaughterhouse and that at one stage the owner told veterinary officers he would do nothing to rectify matters.The inquiry also heard how a catalogue of problems were never rectified by the slaughterhouse and that at one stage the owner told veterinary officers he would do nothing to rectify matters.
Inspections during the early 1990s found contaminated carcasses and the presence of flies in the slaughterhouse, as well as several other hygiene deficiencies.Inspections during the early 1990s found contaminated carcasses and the presence of flies in the slaughterhouse, as well as several other hygiene deficiencies.
Mason Jones, five, died after eating contaminated cooked meatMason Jones, five, died after eating contaminated cooked meat
David Thomas, a veterinary meat hygiene advisor who had inspected the slaughterhouse, told the inquiry said that he was under pressure to try to help the industry and not to shut abattoirs down.David Thomas, a veterinary meat hygiene advisor who had inspected the slaughterhouse, told the inquiry said that he was under pressure to try to help the industry and not to shut abattoirs down.
The inquiry was also told an audit in 2004 found problems with the structure of the premises, making effective cleaning extremely difficult.The inquiry was also told an audit in 2004 found problems with the structure of the premises, making effective cleaning extremely difficult.
Sometimes cleaning would not take place until the day after slaughter.Sometimes cleaning would not take place until the day after slaughter.
Auditors also found a shortage of wash basins for staff and identified the risk of cross-contamination.Auditors also found a shortage of wash basins for staff and identified the risk of cross-contamination.
But the firm continued to operate until February 2006, after the E.coli outbreak, when it was decided that repairs to the abattoir would be uneconomical.But the firm continued to operate until February 2006, after the E.coli outbreak, when it was decided that repairs to the abattoir would be uneconomical.
The inquiry issued photos showing the poor state of hygiene at the abattoir which dated back to the 19th Century.The inquiry issued photos showing the poor state of hygiene at the abattoir which dated back to the 19th Century.
The inquiry, led by microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington, has been going on in Cardiff since the second week of February.The inquiry, led by microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington, has been going on in Cardiff since the second week of February.
It has already heard how butchers John Tudor and Son of Bridgend had supplied schools in the south Wales valleys for almost a decade before meat from its factory carried E.coli through the food chain.It has already heard how butchers John Tudor and Son of Bridgend had supplied schools in the south Wales valleys for almost a decade before meat from its factory carried E.coli through the food chain.