Wing Wah company ordered to pay £19k

A catering company that ran a popular Chinese restaurant in the Black Country where 46 customers were struck down with food poisoning has been ordered to pay £19,610.

Six people were hospitalised after an outbreak of salmonella at Wing Wah in Causeway Green Road, Oldbury, in August 2008.

A 22-month-old baby was one of the victims, as was an 80-year-old man, who spent 12 days in hospital.

Birmingham-based Western Star (Midlands) Limited, the food operator of Oldbury Wing Wah at the time of the outbreak, and its director Kwai Lun Chiu admitted selling food unfit for human consumption and three hygiene offences at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Jonathan Challinor, prosecuting, told the court samples from 34 of the victims identified the salmonella bug as the culprit, which was caused by raw eggs in a tiramisu desert."The symptoms in every case were highly unpleasant and in some cases severe."

The buffet restaurant – formerly the Hen and Chickens pub – was closed temporarily for investigations by Sandwell Council from August 29 to September 1 2008 following the outbreak.

Alexander Cameron, defending both the firm and Chiu, told the court seven people affected by the outbreak had so far received compensation totalling £45,000 with 10 claims still outstanding

.Mr Cameron made a full apology on behalf of the restaurant. "These premises were inspected annually and in recent inspections received a good hygiene award," Mr Cameron said.

"Tiramisu had been on the menu for three years and there had been no problem with it."

The court heard Western Star (Midlands) Ltd, of Ethel Street, Birmingham, ceased trading in September 2008 following the outbreak.

It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £9,610 costs.Hong Kong-born Chiu, aged 45, of The Constables, Oldbury, now a driver, was ordered to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and given a 12-month community order.