Exclusive by Simon Tulett

A salmonella outbreak at a fast food restaurant left five people hospitalised and two others infected.

Bluewater eatery Villa Pizza was originally accused of contaminating 22 diners with the potentially-fatal bug. However, bosses admitted seven counts of putting unsafe food on the market, which was accepted by the Crown.

The restaurant had served a carbonara dish which was laced with the bug in November 2006.

The eggs supplied were from Spain, which was at the centre of an international salmonella warning, and recipe cards given to staff preparing the dish did not spell out the dangers of cooking with raw eggs.

Audio: Dr Mathi Chandrakumar from the Kent Health Protection Agency tells kmfm about salmonella

The eatery was ordered to pay nearly £40,000 in fines and costs when the case was finally resolved at Medway Magistrates’ Court this week.

The company did not comment after the verdict.

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