Several families have reported suffering from severe food poisoning symptoms after consuming a Sunday lunch at a well-known pub. Customers at The Cwrt Henllys Bar and Restaurant in Cwmbran, South Wales, fell ill shortly after indulging in the roast dinner on October 5. Among them, a pregnant woman experienced intense stomach cramps and nausea, fearing a miscarriage due to the severity of the illness.
Health officials have identified the presence of clostridium perfringens, a harmful bacterium known to cause severe food poisoning, in samples taken from 19 affected individuals. One family noted that eight out of 13 members fell ill that day, with their pet dog also becoming sick after consuming leftovers.
Following an investigation by Torfaen Council’s Public Protection Service, it was confirmed that the food poisoning outbreak was caused by clostridium perfringens. However, no new cases have been reported since the incident, indicating no further public health risk related to the pub.
Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria commonly found in animals and the environment. The organism can lead to food poisoning when humans consume contaminated meat or poultry left out for extended periods. The bacteria can form spores that survive cooking and multiply in inadequately cooled or unrefrigerated food, posing a health risk. Outbreaks of C. perfringens food poisoning are more likely in settings where large groups are served, and maintaining safe food temperatures is challenging.
People at a higher risk of severe symptoms from clostridium perfringens poisoning include young children, pregnant women, individuals with underlying health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, liver or kidney disease, and older adults. The Mirror has reached out to The Cwrt Henllys Bar and Restaurant for their comments on the incident.