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| E.coli outbreak butcher is jailed | E.coli outbreak butcher is jailed |
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| A butcher has been jailed for a year for food safety offences which led to a fatal E.coli outbreak in 2005. | A butcher has been jailed for a year for food safety offences which led to a fatal E.coli outbreak in 2005. |
| Cardiff Crown Court heard that a vacuum-packing machine, "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats, was the source of contaminated meat to schools. | Cardiff Crown Court heard that a vacuum-packing machine, "wrongly used" for both raw and cooked meats, was the source of contaminated meat to schools. |
| William Tudor, 54, from Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, had admitted six charges, including supplying contaminated meat from his meat business in Bridgend. | |
| One boy died and 157 others, mainly children, became ill in the outbreak. | One boy died and 157 others, mainly children, became ill in the outbreak. |
| Tudor's premises failed to guard against the risk of cross-contamination, the court heard. | Tudor's premises failed to guard against the risk of cross-contamination, the court heard. |
| Judge Neil Bidder said that while he was a pillar of society he has substantial culpability and a custodial sentence would send out a message to other food producers. | Judge Neil Bidder said that while he was a pillar of society he has substantial culpability and a custodial sentence would send out a message to other food producers. |
| He told Tudor that he put the health of the public at risk for the sake of saving money. 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| 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 vacuum-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. | |
| 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. |