AUSTRALIA | Chinese New Year celebrations didn't go to plan for popular yum cha restaurant The Eight, following an outbreak of food poisoning.
Located in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown precinct in the central suburb of Haymarket, yum cha restaurant, The Eight, has been shut down temporarily.
In the midst of the Lunar New Year celebrations, the busiest time of year for the restaurant, The Eight was closed by food safety authorities following reports from dozens of customers who fell ill with suspected food poisoning.
One case was a nine-month-old baby who was rushed to the emergency department at The Children’s Hospital in Westmead after falling ill.
Other alleged cases include a 24 year-old man who said he battled severe vomiting before being confirmed by doctors that it was indeed food poisoning.
One customer affected by the outbreak said she had spent over AUD $1000 on her Chinese banquet, which included oysters, lobster, fish, salmon, soup, rice and fruit. Another customer said her entire table of eight all fell sick after spending over $1300.
Other than gastrointestinal problems, other symptoms include muscle pain, nausea, and fever.
Angry customers have taken to Google to express their dismay, with one alleging that three of the five people at their table became ill after dining at The Eight restaurant.
Restaurant staff at The Eight claim they do not know what happened, but have confirmed that the kitchen has been cleaned professionally since the outbreak of food poisoning.
NSW Food Safety has commenced an investigation into the matter, including swabbing surfaces and inspecting processes.
"We issued a prohibition order just to mitigate the risk of further cases," a NSW Food Safety Spokesperson said.
NSW Food Safety warned businesses before Christmas about being vigilant as food poisoning can surge during summer.
“It’s a time when people attempt unfamiliar recipes and leave large quantities of food out in the open for long periods. Add the warmth of summer, and this creates the ideal environment for food poisoning bacteria to thrive and spoil the fun,” said NSW Food Authority Acting CEO Lachlan Porteous.
“Always observe good cleanliness and hygiene and remember to keep cold food cold, hot food hot and check the label.”
Food poisoning affects around 4.68 million Australians every year, resulting in about 47,900 hospitalisations and 38 deaths. Pregnant women, infants, the elderly, and people with poor immune systems are more likely to experience severe illness.
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