A now-closed Perth restaurant has been hit with a substantial $40,000 fine after a shocking incident where two young children were accidentally served citronella bug repellant and lamp oil instead of cranberry juice. The case, which unfolded in June 2024, highlights serious lapses in food safety protocols within the hospitality industry.
Children Hospitalised After Drinking 'Poisoned' Beverages
Hannah Lemin, aged 12, and her sister Olivia, 11, were dining with their parents, Michele and Marcus, at Miky's Italian Fusion restaurant in Crawley, an inner-city suburb of Perth. The sisters had ordered cranberry juice but immediately complained that their drinks tasted as if they had been 'poisoned'. Their parents, upon smelling and tasting the suspicious liquid, confronted the bartender and demanded to see the bottle from which it was poured.
Bartender's Mistake and Initial Denial
It was later discovered that the bartender had mistakenly used a bottle of pink-coloured citronella bug repellant, confusing it with cranberry juice. Mr Lemin reported that the worker initially refused to show the bottle, insisting it was merely 'old cranberry juice'. This denial prompted the parents to act swiftly, contacting the poisons information centre before rushing their daughters to Perth Children's Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Ms Lemin described the distressing symptoms her daughters experienced: 'My daughters' stomachs were burning, their fingers and hands were tingling. They had a headache … it was awful.' The sisters spent several hours in hospital before being discharged, with Ms Lemin expressing grave concern: 'If they were younger children that this happened to, I'd hate to think what would have happened.'
Court Case and Restaurant Owner Found Guilty
The hospital visit triggered a comprehensive investigation by the Department of Health, leading to a case being brought before Perth Magistrates Court. On Tuesday, the restaurant's former owner, Michele Angiuli, was found guilty of selling food that was unsafe and failing to exercise due diligence, along with two related charges. Magistrate Donna Webb ruled that Angiuli had failed to properly manage his restaurant in multiple areas, including ensuring staff possessed appropriate food safety qualifications.
Parental Concerns and Industry Accountability
Outside the courtroom, Mr Lemin reflected on the incident, stating he was uncertain about the appropriate sentence for the former restaurateur. He emphasised the broader implications: 'I think the issue for me is more that it drives a bit more rigour in the industry and that we get to a point where maybe business owners in the hospitality industry understand the accountabilities they hold.' Angiuli was subsequently fined $40,000 and declined to comment to the media.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of stringent food safety measures in restaurants, particularly when handling substances that could be mistaken for consumable products. The incident has raised awareness about the potential dangers lurking in commercial kitchens and the need for enhanced training and oversight to prevent such hazardous mix-ups in the future.
