Fifty customers SICK after eating at kebab shop as boy suffers 'life-changing' illness

Many customers of the Marmaris Kebab House in Abergavenny, South Wales fell ill after eating there, with more than 50 affected and 11 taken to hospital - including a young boy

Two kebab shop bosses must pay more £10,000 after more than 50 customers were poisoned at their takeaway restaurant.

Eleven customers - including an 11-year-old boy - were hospitalised after the contaminated kebab outbreak at the shop. Sami Abdullah, 46, and Hassan Saritag, 38, ran the Marmaris Kebab House in Abergavenny, South Wales, where dozens of diners fell ill.

An investigation found customers had eaten food affected by shigella bacteria which could be "positively linked" to the Marmaris kebab shop. The precise source of the outbreak could not be determined, but Newport Magistrates' Court heard it was associated with a failure to separate washed and unwashed vegetables while preparing coleslaw.

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Takeaway director Abdullah and business partner Saritag both previously pleaded guilty to placing unsafe food on the market, failing to put in place food safety procedures, and failing to register new owners at the business. The court heard the food poisoning had a "widespread impact" - including an 11-year-old boy who now suffers from a "life changing illness" - type 1 diabetes - after becoming unwell from their "failures."

At the time, Public Health Wales said it was aware of "an increase in cases of gastrointestinal illness" in the town believed to be caused by the shigella infection. It described shigella as an intestinal infection that "is not life-threatening, although in some cases it may result in hospitalisation, but symptoms usually clear up within four to five days."

At the time, many customers that had fallen ill had symptoms which included "some vomiting, fevers, terrible stomach cramps and blood in their diarrhoea." The council spokesman previously said: "Further offences for failing to register new owners at the business and failing to maintain a suitable food safety management system also resulted in guilty pleas. The business is now under new ownership."

District Judge Sophie Toms said the "success" of a takeaway businesses is "built on trust" to "keep people safe." She told the pair: "You both failed to do that, breaking the trust of people in Abergavenny and causing significant harm."

Scott Tuppen, defending Abdullah, said he had a long history working in restaurants with no previous hygiene issue. "Mr Abdullah offers his deepest apologies to those affected and in particular those who suffered permanently," he added.

The kebab business was at some point handed over to Abdullah - but it was not registered.

David Leathley, defending Saritag, said he had a no issues in the food sector in the past and it was an "isolated breach" involving a rare form of E. coli. He added "nobody saw this coming."

The court heard they both accepted the suggestion to close the business after it was raised by the council. Judge Toms said Abdullah and Saritag have no previous conviction, she had been told that they are "remorseful" and have cooperated.

She added: "Penalties you will face will be financial but I also appreciate you lost your good character and good names."

Abdullah, from Cwmbran, was ordered to pay a £2,000 fine, while Saritag, from Abergavenny, was fined £3,065. They were both also ordered to pay £2,792 in costs.