A woman endured nearly a year of diarrhoea after consuming a contaminated batch of pork scratchings during a widespread food poisoning incident. Ruanda Davis, 64, fell seriously ill shortly after ingesting Mr Porky pork scratchings in June 2021. She was later diagnosed with Salmonella as part of a nationwide outbreak that affected numerous individuals.
The implicated Mr Porky products, produced by Tayto Group Ltd in Bolton, were recalled in September 2021 following reports of 179 cases of diarrhoea, vomiting, and fever. Over 100 people reported becoming unwell after consuming the snacks.
Ruanda, residing in Cardiff, expressed the severity of her illness, stating it was the worst she had ever experienced. The illness symptoms persisted long after the initial incident, causing ongoing distress due to her disability and limited mobility.
Following her illness, Ruanda suffered a fall resulting in a head injury, leading to hospitalization for five days to receive intravenous fluids for dehydration. Subsequent tests confirmed the presence of Salmonella.
Even though the vomiting eventually ceased, Ruanda continued to battle diarrhoea and irregular bowel function for almost a year post-hospital discharge. She emphasized the life-altering impact of the experience, highlighting the need for stricter food safety measures to prevent similar incidents and protect consumers.
Tayto Group Ltd faced legal consequences, admitting guilt to charges related to distributing unsafe food and failing to safeguard food from contamination. Despite the company’s denial of liability, a group of affected individuals, including Ruanda, received compensation through a collective settlement facilitated by law firm Irwin Mitchell.
Nadhia Akthar, a public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, emphasized the severe repercussions of food contamination, noting the long-term health implications and potential fatalities associated with bacterial infections like Salmonella. The settlements obtained aimed to provide ongoing support for affected individuals grappling with persistent health challenges.
In response to the incident, Tayto Group issued an apology for the harm caused, acknowledging the failure in ensuring consumer safety. The company took immediate corrective actions, including a product recall and enhanced safety protocols to prevent future occurrences, underscoring their commitment to upholding the highest food safety standards.