Chicken à la crème has been identified as the source of a serious food poisoning incident that affected over 70 guests at a recent wedding in Limassol. The state laboratory confirmed on Sunday that salmonella bacteria were found in the dish, raising alarm after 21 individuals required hospitalisation.
The wedding reception took place last weekend, and a total of 74 attendees reported symptoms consistent with food poisoning shortly after the event. Public health service director Herodotos Herodotou stated, “The food tested so far was found to be unsuitable for human consumption.” This revelation has spurred further investigations into the catering practices of the company responsible for the meal.
In addition to the salmonella bacteria in the chicken à la crème, tests also detected bacillus cereus bacteria in rice with vermicelli and penne with mushrooms served at the reception. The public health service took immediate action, collecting nine food samples from the wedding to determine the cause of the outbreak.
Following the complaints from the newlywed couple about their guests falling ill, health officials initiated a thorough investigation. The Limassol district office has been tasked with compiling a report on the incident, while interviews with the affected guests are expected to reveal more details about the circumstances surrounding the outbreak.
As a precautionary measure, the catering company involved has temporarily suspended its operations. Authorities have the power to enforce rolling four-day suspensions, allowing them to closely monitor the situation as investigations continue. Herodotou noted, “We are committed to ensuring the safety of food served at events and will take all necessary steps to prevent further incidents.”
