The Health Bureau (SSM) reported a suspected collective food poisoning case, affecting 13 people, to the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) yesterday, according to an IAM statement.
According to the statement, six different groups comprising 13 people went to Bella Taipa Modern Italian Cuisine in Rua dos Clérigos for a meal on Saturday. The statement noted that the 13 people ate the eatery’s bread with homemade salad dressing, made with eggs, risotto and other food items. The statement said that the patients started to show gastroenteritis symptoms, such as stomachache, diarrhoea and fever, on Saturday night.
The statement said that after the Health Bureau investigated the matter, its officials came to conclusion that the collective case was caused by bacteria.
The statement said that after being notified of the case, IAM inspectors immediately went to the restaurant to collect food samples, adding that the inspectors demanded the restaurant stop selling the products that caused the patients gastroenteritis. The statement pointed out that the inspectors also told the employees of the restaurant to deep-clean the food processing area, food storage area, cooking appliances and utensils. The bureau said that its inspectors also urged the eatery’s employees to attend food safety courses to strengthen their knowledge on food and personal hygiene.
The statement pointed out that according to the Food Safety Law, any violation of the law carries a fine of 50,000 to 600,000 patacas, adding that the production or sale of harmful food is punishable by up to five years behind bars, or a fine.
The statement said that the IAM inspectors suspect that the case might be caused by the eggs in the salad dressing, as they could have been contaminated with salmonella. The statement said that when someone eats contaminated or undercooked eggs, dairy or meat products they will feel unwell.
The statement stressed that salmonella cannot survive high temperatures, so the bureau urged the general public to cook food thoroughly to kill any bacteria.
