Hog roast company that poisoned a bride, groom and FIFTY of their wedding guests is fined £200,000 after wedding reception SALMONELLA outbreak

  • Phil and Vikki Kemp were holding wedding at Packington Hall, Warwickshire
  • But hours into the day guest began to come down with salmonella poisoning
  • Revealed that a hog roast had not been cooked above 75 degrees
  • Galloping Gourmet Ltd pleaded guilty to safety breaches and were fined £200,000 with £50,000 in extra court costs

A newly married couple and 50 wedding guests were struck down with salmonella food poisoning at their luxury wedding reception in Warwickshire.

A pregnant mum and eight-year-old girl were among the 53 wedding guests struck down with food poisoning at the wedding of Phil and Vikki Kemp held at Packington Hall, Warwickshire, on October 20 2017.

The couple were also struck down with salmonella poisoning and were unable to go on their luxury honeymoon to the Dominican Republic after eating an uncooked hog roast.

Catering company Galloping Gourmet Ltd pleaded guilty to two breaches of health and safety at Cannock Magistrates Court yesterday and were fined £200,000 and told to pay court costs of £50,000.

Couple Phil and Vikki Kemp and 50 wedding guests were struck down with salmonella poisoning after eating an uncooked hog roast

Couple Phil and Vikki Kemp and 50 wedding guests were struck down with salmonella poisoning after eating an uncooked hog roast

The couple were unable to go on their luxury honeymoon to the Dominican Republic. 'The wedding had been a really fantastic day and everyone had enjoyed it so much but I couldn't believe it when I started to feel unwell,' said Mr Kemp

The couple were unable to go on their luxury honeymoon to the Dominican Republic. 'The wedding had been a really fantastic day and everyone had enjoyed it so much but I couldn't believe it when I started to feel unwell,' said Mr Kemp

Mr Mark Jackson, prosecuting on behalf of Lichfield District Council, said the environmental health department was contacted by Mrs Kemp two days after her wedding saying guests had been complaining of suffering from gastric illness symptoms including nausea, diarrhoea and abdominal pains.

One man had been hospitalised. 

Investigations traced the cause of salmonella from a hog roast which hadn't been cooked to a temperature beyond 75 degrees which would have killed off salmonella.

When environmental health inspectors visited the premises days later they discovered food out of date, mould in the fridges, and raw meat chopping boards were being mixed with other foods.

When environmental health inspectors visited the premises days later they discovered food out of date, mould in the fridges, and raw meat chopping boards were being mixed with other foods

When environmental health inspectors visited the premises days later they discovered food out of date, mould in the fridges, and raw meat chopping boards were being mixed with other foods

Investigations traced the cause of salmonella from a hog roast which hadn't been cooked to a temperature beyond 75 degrees which would have killed off salmonella (file image)

Investigations traced the cause of salmonella from a hog roast which hadn't been cooked to a temperature beyond 75 degrees which would have killed off salmonella (file image)

Mr Christopher Russell, representing Galloping Gourmet (Coulsden) Ltd, said: 'The company has no previous convictions and has a five star rating at its other nine sites. Further improvements and safeguards have been made to ensure this never happens again.

'The company would like to apologise for what happened to Mr and Mrs Kemp and their wedding guests.'

Kevin Grego, district judge, said: 'This had a devastating affect on Mr and Mrs Kemp on their wedding day. In total 53 guests were affected by salmonella poisoning. Records involving the hog roast were not proper, in fact fraudulent. The hog roast should have been heated to over 75 degrees but it wasn't and this caused salmonella to be present.'

In a statement released by solicitors Irwin Mitchell, Mr Kemp said: 'The wedding had been a really fantastic day and everyone had enjoyed it so much but I couldn't believe it when I started to feel unwell. It got to the point where I had to go to a local walk-in centre and after tests I was told I had salmonella - I just couldn't believe it.

Mr Kemp added: 'News of today's prosecution is very welcome and I hope that it is an outcome that caterers across the country pay attention to and learn from'

Mr Kemp added: 'News of today's prosecution is very welcome and I hope that it is an outcome that caterers across the country pay attention to and learn from'

'My illness lasted around 10 days all in all, but the symptoms were so bad that we had no option but to cancel our honeymoon to the Dominican Republic. I was totally devastated and we never got any money back from the tour operator or insurer in relation to it.

'We did go away eventually, but this was obviously an extra cost on top of everything we had already paid. It was heartbreaking.'

Other guests affected by the illness problems have gone on to suffer issues including irritable bowel syndrome and psychological conditions as a result of what they have been through.

Phil added: 'News of today's prosecution is very welcome and I hope that it is an outcome that caterers across the country pay attention to and learn from. No one should have to go through what we have, especially in relation to their wedding day - it is just not acceptable.

'Sadly a lot of the memories about what should have been the happiest day of mine and Vikki's lives are spoilt by what happened.

'Nothing will change what has happened, but we now just hope these issues will never happen again.'