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| Vacuum packer 'was E.coli source' | Vacuum packer 'was E.coli source' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A vacuum-packing machine "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats was the source of a fatal E.coli outbreak in 2005, Cardiff Crown Court has heard. | A vacuum-packing machine "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats was the source of a fatal E.coli outbreak in 2005, Cardiff Crown Court has heard. |
| One boy died and 157 others, mainly children, became ill after a butcher supplied contaminated meat to schools. | One boy died and 157 others, mainly children, became ill after a butcher supplied contaminated meat to schools. |
| William Tudor's Bridgend premises failed to guard against the risk of cross-contamination, the court heard. | |
| Tudor, 54, from Cowbridge, is being sentenced after admitting food hygiene charges. The hearing continues. | Tudor, 54, from Cowbridge, is being sentenced after admitting food hygiene charges. The hearing continues. |
| Tudor admitted supplying contaminated meat and failing to protect food against the risk of contamination at a hearing last month. | Tudor admitted supplying contaminated meat and failing to protect food against the risk of contamination at a hearing last month. |
| Mason Jones, five, from Bargoed in the Rhymney valley, died in hospital two weeks after eating the contaminated ham and turkey at his school canteen, the judge was told. | |
| Five-year-old Mason Jones died in hospital after becoming ill | Five-year-old Mason Jones died in hospital after becoming ill |
| Prosecutor Graham Walters said Mason had hallucinations and kidney failure before his death in the early hours of 4 October 2005. | Prosecutor Graham Walters said Mason had hallucinations and kidney failure before his death in the early hours of 4 October 2005. |
| He said that after being admitted to Bristol Children's Hospital at the end of September, Mason "fought for his life for the best part of a week" before dying. | |
| Mr Walters described to the court how Tudor's business John Tudor and Son had a contract to supply cooked meats for school dinners at primary schools right across south Wales. | Mr Walters described to the court how Tudor's business John Tudor and Son had a contract to supply cooked meats for school dinners at primary schools right across south Wales. |
| Within days of the contaminated cooked meat being delivered in September 2005 a number of pupils fell ill with symptoms of diarrhoea, he said. | |
| He said environmental health officers were called in, an outbreak control team set up and it was confirmed as an outbreak of E.coli 0157. | He said environmental health officers were called in, an outbreak control team set up and it was confirmed as an outbreak of E.coli 0157. |
| "The outbreak took hold and there were 157 cases which were investigated, 109 were linked to this incident at 44 local schools," said Mr Walters. | "The outbreak took hold and there were 157 cases which were investigated, 109 were linked to this incident at 44 local schools," said Mr Walters. |
| "Pupils were taken out of school, parents waited anxiously to find out what to do as it developed into the UK's second largest outbreak ever." | "Pupils were taken out of school, parents waited anxiously to find out what to do as it developed into the UK's second largest outbreak ever." |
| Blood on trays | Blood on trays |
| Mr Walters said Tudor's factory in Bridgend was immediately closed down because of the "grave" risk to health in the outbreak. | Mr Walters said Tudor's factory in Bridgend was immediately closed down because of the "grave" risk to health in the outbreak. |
| He described to the court how one vacumn-packing machine was "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats. | He described to the court how one vacumn-packing machine was "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats. |
| "It was not uncommon for juices from raw meat to get into the vacpacker. | "It was not uncommon for juices from raw meat to get into the vacpacker. |
| "There was blood on the trays and workers were having to wipe it off while they were packing cooked meat. | "There was blood on the trays and workers were having to wipe it off while they were packing cooked meat. |
| "One employee said he was told by Tudor not to use the vacpacker for cooked meat whenever food inspectors were visiting. | "One employee said he was told by Tudor not to use the vacpacker for cooked meat whenever food inspectors were visiting. |
| "But the health inspectors found more fundamental failures in cleaning and there was general concern over hygiene. | "But the health inspectors found more fundamental failures in cleaning and there was general concern over hygiene. |
| The premises were closed down because of the "grave" risk to health | The premises were closed down because of the "grave" risk to health |
| "There was evidence the vacpacker was covered in congealed debris and dirt. | "There was evidence the vacpacker was covered in congealed debris and dirt. |
| "Tudor was asked how it was cleaned and he produced a dirty brush and bucket. | "Tudor was asked how it was cleaned and he produced a dirty brush and bucket. |
| "Tudor was fully aware of the dangers because he had taken his advanced food hygiene standards certificate in 2004, which was a matter of law." | "Tudor was fully aware of the dangers because he had taken his advanced food hygiene standards certificate in 2004, which was a matter of law." |
| A legally-required log of the cleaning records for the machinery had not been completed on a daily or weekly basis. | A legally-required log of the cleaning records for the machinery had not been completed on a daily or weekly basis. |
| Mr Walters said: "There was a simple failure to guard against the risk of cross contamination. Cleaning was inadequate. There was only one vacpacker and one weighing scales - cooked meat and raw meat was used in both." | Mr Walters said: "There was a simple failure to guard against the risk of cross contamination. Cleaning was inadequate. There was only one vacpacker and one weighing scales - cooked meat and raw meat was used in both." |
| Tudor admitted charges related to six schools, including supplying contaminated meat to Deri Primary School in Bargoed, where Mason Jones was a pupil. | Tudor admitted charges related to six schools, including supplying contaminated meat to Deri Primary School in Bargoed, where Mason Jones was a pupil. |
| Public inquiry | Public inquiry |
| The other charges involve five more junior and primary south Wales primary schools | The other charges involve five more junior and primary south Wales primary schools |
| He pleaded guilty to charges under the General Food Regulations of "placing unsafe food on the market". | He pleaded guilty to charges under the General Food Regulations of "placing unsafe food on the market". |
| A seventh charge of failing to protect food against the risk of contamination at his factory was also admitted. | A seventh charge of failing to protect food against the risk of contamination at his factory was also admitted. |
| A public inquiry is due to be held into the outbreak chaired by food expert Professor Hugh Pennington. | A public inquiry is due to be held into the outbreak chaired by food expert Professor Hugh Pennington. |