Restaurant to pay $11,000 over tainted turkey

A Gisborne restaurateur has been ordered to pay over $11,000 after Christmas Day diners fell ill from eating tainted turkey.

The Bushmere Arms provided a buffet lunch for 110 diners, with a selection of ham, beef and turkey on Christmas Day 2006.

The next day some diners called the owner, Robin Pierson, and complained of feeling ill from the lunch.

Fifty-seven reported they had stomach pain, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) said.

A health protection officer found they were suffering from food poisoning from the turkey.

Pierson was convicted for selling contaminated food at a trial in Gisborne District Court in June 2008, and fined $400.

He appealed against the conviction in the High Court at Gisborne in February this year, arguing the prosecution had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt the turkey had caused the illnesses.

NZFSA also appealed against the sentence because the diners were not awarded reparation for their meals and there was no order for costs to be paid to the Crown.

In its judgment released yesterday the High Court upheld Pierson's conviction and ordered him to pay $400 in fines, along with an additional $850 in reparation to the victims, and $10,414 in court costs.

NZFSA assistant director of compliance and investigation Justin Rowlands said he was pleased the court had recognised the serious effect poor food handling practices could have on members of the public.

- NZPA