With most food poisoning stories now hidden in the shadows of the Nanna’s Frozen Berry Scandal, most other news have been hidden in our view. Unbeknownst to most people, a massive food scandal occurred in Queensland last week.
24 people were hospitalised in Queensland after one of their biggest food poisoning outbreaks (previously the record was held by the 130 victims from the Chin Chin Chinese restaurant south of Brisbane – check out our post about that scandal here). With a reported 175 fallen victim to salmonella, the case started at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on last Thursday and Friday (i.e. the 26th and 27th of February 2015). All of the people who have fallen sick attended a conference for Queensland state school principals.
Fortunately, none of the hospitalised victims are in a critical condition “but their conditions vary, with the food poisoning ‘exacerbating’ some pre-existing conditions,” Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said.
On Monday night, the Queensland Health authorities launched an investigation. Sources say that one patient’s blood test indicated salmonella poisoning, commonly caused by eating undercooked meat, poultry or eggs. Delegates were served morning tea and lunch as well as finger food on Thursday evening. Prawns and cold smoked salmon were among the food served. One sick principal questioned food handling standards.
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