Bakery owner's tearful apology after 17 customers struck down by salmonella outbreak
The owner of a bakery behind 17 confirmed cases of salmonella had made a tearful apology to its customers, pleading with the public to put their trust in his business once again.
At least three people were hospitalised after eating chicken from the sandwich bar at Gawler South Bakery in Adelaide’s north.
The shop’s owner, Nathan Assender, opened the doors today in an effort to stop his 50-year-old business from going under.
“Everybody here's really distressed about the whole situation. We're still unclear where it's come from and how this has happened,” Mr Assender told 7 News.
The people who fell ill ate chicken wraps and sandwiches between the 14th and 22nd of December.
While the sandwich bar remains closed until cleared by SA Health, the rest of the bakery is business as usual.
“We’re re-cleaning everything, we're re-doing everything we possibly can, we want the public to come back in and support us,” Mr Assender said, describing the situation as “pretty upsetting”.
"Hopefully the community get behind us and we can keep the 40 people we employ in jobs and keep our doors open."
Customers are rallying around the business, undeterred by the outbreak.
“It's a family business and you hope for the best for them, it's an unfortunate thing to happen,” one regular customer told 7 News.
The number of confirmed salmonella cases stemming from the bakery is expected to rise when SA Health gets lab results back on Tuesday.
It's the second time in 12 months the business has been investigated.
