Bakery owner's tearful apology after salmonella outbreak
The owner of an Adelaide bakery has issued a tearful apology after 11 people were struck down with salmonella poisoning.
The customers consumed Vietnamese meat rolls at Angkor Bakery, which has stores in Burton, Blakeview and Salisbury Downs.
They have all been ordered to stop selling the product as a cluster of salmonella cases were traced back to the business.
Owner Lakhina Eung now fears the outbreak could spell the end for her bakeries.
“I’m very, very sorry that I didn’t know what we did wrong. I don’t know who supply, and I don’t know how it happened,” an emotional Ms Eung said.
Nine people were hospitalised over the outbreak, with another two also falling ill.
SA Health’s Nicola Spurrier said they had been lucky the outbreak didn’t escalate and praised the awareness of a GP who came forward to say he’d noticed affected colleagues had all eaten at the same bakery.
Food safety inspectors believe raw egg butter, meat pate, and bbq pork are to blame.
One victim who ate the meat roll seven days ago is still in hospital.
“It’s like you’re dying. It’s like you’d rather take a tablet and go straight to sleep. It’s horrible. It’s like the worst thing I’ve ever felt,” victim Mandy White said.
Ms Leung said her family were extremely upset, with the future of the 10-year-old business in jeopardy.
“They get a lot of business all the time so it’s shocking to hear that,” one local said.
The Eung family met with Salisbury council late on Thursday and says they will do anything to win back the confidence of their customers.
“I hope that the public and our community still trust us,” Ms Eung said.
SA Health will now undertake a thorough investigation as to what was the exact cause of the outbreak.
The stores remain open with a restricted menu.
