UK Health Agency: Massive norovirus outbreak caused illnesses at famous Fat Duck restaurant

Health Agency: Fat Duck outbreak caused by virus

LONDON — The vomiting and diarrhea that hit patrons of one of Britain’s most celebrated restaurants was caused by a virus that was probably introduced by contaminated shellfish, the country’s Health Protection Agency said in a report published Thursday.

The Fat Duck, a Michelin-starred restaurant run by celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal, was closed for more than two weeks starting Feb. 24 after hundreds of diners became ill.

The closure was widely covered by the British media, an interest fed in part by the mysterious source of the illness and the bizarre items on Blumenthal’s menu, which features jelly of quail, cream of crayfish and salmon poached in licorice.

The agency said the diners fell ill with a norovirus, commonly known as the “winter vomiting bug,” which sickens hundreds of thousands of Britons every year.

The agency said that the fact that 529 people reported falling ill at the Fat Duck was surprising.

“Not only is it one of the largest outbreaks that we’ve dealt with, it’s one of the largest outbreaks associated with a restaurant in medical literature,” an agency spokeswoman said. She spoke anonymously in line with agency policy.

The agency’s report found evidence that the cause of the outbreak was shellfish, particularly oysters that may have been contaminated with sewage.

It also said several members of staff had been infected with the norovirus, and may have brought it with them to work.

The report said it had not found any breaches of hygiene at the restaurant but noted several “weaknesses in procedures,” including a delayed response to the incident and staff working when they should have been off sick.

The local government said it was still considering whether to take formal action. The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead did not say when such a decision would be made.

The restaurant, located in the village of Bray, west of London, said there had been no lapse in its “strict food preparation processes.”

“The restaurant has been open as normal since March 12 and I would like to reassure our guests that they can continue to visit us with total confidence,” it said in a statement.

On the Net:

Health Protection Agency: www.hpa.org.uk/

The Fat Duck: www.fatduck.co.uk/