Mother's Salmonella Ordeal After Eating Contaminated Pork Scratchings
A mother from Cardiff has described how she has "never been so ill" in her life after contracting salmonella from a box of contaminated Mr Porky pork scratchings. Ruanda Davis, 64, was hospitalised for five days in June 2021 with severe vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration following consumption of the snack.
Widespread Outbreak and Product Recall
The Mr Porky products, manufactured by Tayto Group Ltd at their factory on Great Bank Road in Westhoughton, Bolton, were recalled three months later in August 2021. This action came after 179 people were reported to have suffered similar symptoms. The outbreak was not isolated, with cases confirmed across multiple UK regions including the North West, South East, Wales, the West Midlands, the South West, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Severe Health Consequences and Legal Action
Ms Davis, who has impaired mobility, recounted a terrifying experience where her symptoms caused her to fall while trying to get out of bed, resulting in a head injury. An ambulance was called, and she received five days of hospital treatment including IV fluids for dehydration. While her vomiting subsided, she continued to suffer from diarrhoea and abnormal bowel function for nearly a year after discharge.
The family-run firm, which employs 1,500 people, has now been ordered to pay a court settlement exceeding £300,000 after group action was brought against the company by public health lawyers at Irwin Mitchell. Ms Davis was among those receiving compensation in the civil case.
Factory Defects and Prosecution
Bolton Crown Court heard that the salmonella outbreak originated from multiple issues within the factory, including a failure to effectively separate areas where raw and cooked meat was stored. Prosecuting barrister Richard Barraclough KC stated that "a number of defects had been allowed to develop over a period of time."
Tayto Group Ltd pleaded guilty to two offences: placing unsafe food on the market and failing to ensure food was protected against contamination. The period of charges ran from July to August 2021, though the outbreak continued in subsequent months.
Landmark Case and Company Response
This prosecution is believed to be the first of its type in the UK involving genome sequencing to identify the illness origin, and involved "one of the largest" product recalls dealt with by UK authorities. The court was told that 600 people fell ill with salmonella from the pork scratchings, with 35 requiring hospital treatment and 12 being admitted.
Defending Tayto, Jonathan Goulding stated: "My client apologises unreservedly for the harm caused by these offences. It fully accepts it fell short of its usual high standards." He revealed the company has spent more than £800,000 on remedial work at the factory and has achieved the highest safety accreditations at its Bolton plant and other locations.
Court Judgment and Compensation
Judge Abigail Hudson noted that the company had voluntarily stopped production after the outbreak was identified, carried out a deep clean, and acknowledged defects when environmental health officers attended. She accepted that at the time, the company would have had no reason to identify some factors responsible for the outbreak, as the factory layout had been inherited from another company and approved by Bolton Council.
The judge fined Tayto £153,000 and ordered the company to pay costs of £309,136.09. Since the outbreak, an "enormous amount of work has been done within the factory" with a "high level of cooperation" from the firm.
Victim's Perspective and Public Warning
Speaking for the first time about her illness, Ms Davis said: "Even after I came home, I wasn't the same. My health and confidence have suffered, and even now years on from my ordeal I'm still a lot more careful about what I eat. This experience has changed my life."
She added: "By sharing my story I hope food manufacturers take every possible step to keep their products safe and protect the public. I wouldn't want anyone else to have gone through what I have." Ms Davis emphasised she is trying to raise awareness about "how serious food poisoning can be."
