Ice cream recipe led to outbreak

The outbreak of salmonella food poisoning affected 18 people

An East Sussex restaurant prosecuted for a salmonella outbreak "is a good business that made a mistake", environmental health officers said.

Tim Albright from Lewes council said a recipe for a dessert at the Golden Palace, Seaford, had been changed.

The original recipe that led to a food poisoning affecting 18 people in March 2005 involved ice cream dipped in raw egg being frozen and then deep fried.

Magistrates fined the company £15,000 on Monday and ordered it to pay costs.

Mr Albright said the fine was for 10 separate offences under the General Food Regulations of 2004. Costs to the council amounted to £5,279.

'Fundamental mistakes'

He said: "Unfortunately raw egg was not suitable for use in this dish, as the brief cooking time would not destroy any salmonella present in raw eggs."

He added: "The defendants pleaded guilty and acknowledged fundamental mistakes were made by chefs that did not reflect the otherwise high standards of food preparation within the restaurant.

"The Golden Palace restaurant has changed the recipe so that raw eggs are no longer used."

And he said chefs at the restaurant had also taken training and food preparation advice from the council.

"The restaurant is a good business that made a mistake that has now been rectified," Mr Albright said.