Christmas food ban after E.coli

No home made cakes can be brought into schools for sharing

Schools across four south Wales counties have banned homemade food being brought in for Christmas parties to prevent the spread of E.coli.

No school in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr, Caerphilly and Bridgend is allowing children to bring in food to share after the outbreak of the bug.

So far the outbreak has caused the death of five-year-old Mason Jones and 171 people have been infected.

Health officials have ordered schools to stop pupils sharing home made food.

Stringent hygiene measures were brought in on 19 September when the south Wales valleys outbreak was first detected.

And this means that schools are now stopping pupils and their parents from bringing in homemade food unless it is for personal consumption only.

The E.coli O157 strain is potentially fatal

It will affect hundreds of Christmas parties and fetes, held by schools across the region, which rely on homemade cakes and sandwiches being brought in by parents.

A similar ban was imposed on schools in the area holding harvest festivals and distributing food.

The Outbreak Control Team (OCT) leading the effort to stop the spread of infection has said that stringent hygiene rules cannot be relaxed over Christmas.

"We have had clear control measures in place from the beginning of the outbreak," said a spokesman for the OCT.

If it stops the spread of the infection people will fully understand why it is being done Spokesman, OCT

"The effect is that no children should bring in to school food other than for their own consumption.

"That was done to stop the spread of the infection and that control measure, among others, is still in place.

"Some schools have Christmas parties or Christmas fairs which involve bringing in food to share or sell to the outside community.

"That obviously could not be allowed because there may still be people walking around with the infection and it could be passed on.

Second outbreak

"This will disappoint some people but I am sure that if it stops the spread of the infection people will fully understand why it is being done."

Phil Rowlands of Pentre Primary School in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area said that schools would adapt to the ban by offering alternatives to children.

"We always have Father Christmas, but this year he'll have to give little gifts rather than sweets," he said.

Earlier this month, a second outbreak of the E.coli infection was detected in Brecon, Powys.

A primary school and nursery were closed after 12 cases were confirmed. Health officials have said the outbreak is not connected to the one in south Wales.