Mandarin Orchard food poisoning: 'Strong evidence of severe contamination', say authorities

[beyond]

The Grand Mandarin Ballroom at Mandarin Orchard Singapore. (Photo: Meritus Hotels and Resorts)

 

SINGAPORE: Authorities on Friday (Dec 14) said there was strong evidence of severe contamination of the Grand Ballroom at the Mandarin Orchard Hotel, where a food poisoning outbreak occurred earlier this month. 

175 people fell ill after attending four separate events at the Grand Ballroom held between Dec 1 and 3.

After completing their investigations into outbreak at Mandarin Orchard Hotel, as well as those involving FoodTalks Caterer and Manufacturer and Tung Lok Millennium, the Ministry of Health, the National Environment Agency and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore issued a joint statement on Friday saying that the outbreaks were not related.

On the incident at the Mandarin Orchard, the statement said that investigations suggest that this was an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis. 

READ: NEA, AVA to prioritise checks on food caterers during festive season

It added: "There is strong evidence of severe contamination of the Grand Ballroom with norovirus from poor environmental and personal hygiene practices. 

"Norovirus was detected from the stool samples collected from five cases, three food handlers and 28 service staff, including banquet servers who reported to have continued working while they were ill."

NOROVIRUS ON UNUSED TABLE CLOTHS, CUTLERY, DRINKING GLASSES

The events that were affected by the Mandarin Orchard outbreak included at least one with food from a different source. 

Food for a Dec 2 dinner to celebrate the Jewish festival Hanukkah had been prepared by a separate caterer, due to the guests' special dietary requirements.

In Friday's statement, authorities said that norovirus was found on multiple surfaces, including carpet, tables, chairs, unused table cloths, cutlery and drinking glasses. 

Faecal coliforms were also detected in food samples, as well as Bacillus cereus from environmental swabs taken from other surfaces such as utensils and door handles. 

Interviews that were conducted with the staff at Mandarin Orchard also revealed "improper cleaning of vomitus in the Grand Ballroom, and banquet servers had continued to work while ill", the statement said.

Joint inspections were conducted by the authorities on Dec 4, 5, 6 and 10.

The banquet kitchen serving the Grand Ballroom was suspended on Dec 5 and the hotel was instructed to close and conduct thorough cleaning and disinfection of the area. 

"The suspension of the banquet kitchen and closure of the Grand Ballroom will continue to be in place until NEA is satisfied that the public health risks including the satisfactory disinfection of the premises, have been addressed," the statement said. 

It said that a total of 315 people were reported to have developed gastroenteritis symptoms after attending five separate events held at the venue between Dec 1 and 3. 

"14 cases were hospitalised, of whom 13 have since been discharged. The remaining case is in stable condition," the statement said.

 

Edited December 14, 2018 by beyond

[Palladium92]

Like Duh strong evidence which means NEA and AVA were sleeping on the job

[Camper]

Wah lao i think need to carry silver needle out liao. Test food.

[beyond]

13 minutes ago, Camper said:

Wah lao i think need to carry silver needle out liao. Test food.

u need to walk 7 steps and jump 3 times to see tio poison or not... wahahaha~!~!