Your Holiday Claims

Friday, 4 September 2009

20 holiday resorts with food poisoning complaints

Food poisoning and holiday complaints

Most people enjoy fabulous holidays in Egypt, Greece, Cuba, Tunisia, Spain and Turkey, but some have suffered holiday hotel food poisoning and other holiday illnesses, including Norovirus, Salmonella and Shigella, and serious gastroenteritis during their trips.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claim phone 08000 154321 or click here for http://www.yourholidayclaims.co.uk/


One of the most historic locations to visit on holiday is Egypt. Visitors are attracted to this diverse and fascinating country to visit the Pyramids, cruise down the Nile, or experience how the pharaohs lived many years ago. Modern Egypt is still a major tourist attraction, but reports of holiday illness are not uncommon in some of its hotels.

Complaints have included food poisoning, inappropriate behaviour, dirty swimming pools and poor plumbing, and holidays which have received specific complaints in Egypt in 2009 include: The Holiday Village, Sharm El Sheikh, The Sierra Sharm El Sheikh, The Sheraton Sharm Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh, The Jaz Mirabel Beach, Sharm El Sheikh and The Concorde El Salam Hotel, Sharm El Sheikh.

Holiday hotels in Turkey have also received similar complaints, including holiday food poisoning and holiday illness, and include: Club Seray Forest, Marmaris, Sun Maris Beach Hotel, Marmaris and the Holiday Village in Sarigerme, Turkey.

Spain is one of the world´s top tourist destinations, but it still gets its fair share of previous complaints from holidaymakers, including holiday food poisoning outbreaks, Norovirus and Salmonella in some hotels. Complaints in 2009 have been made about the following hotels and holiday complexes in Spain: The Holiday Village, Benalmadena, Costa del Sol, The Holiday Village, C´an Picafort, Majorca, Paradise Island, Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, the Paraiso Ten, Benidorm, Costa Blanca, Spain, Bellevue Apartments, Alcudia, Majorca and the Hotel Clumba Mar, C´an Picafort, Majorca.

Tunisia is another popular tourist destination where a number of complaints have been made against holiday hotels in 2009. Complaints range from food poisoning to poor hygiene standards, and hotels which have received complaints include: The Hotel Riviera at Port El Kantaoui, Hotel Neptunia Beach at Skanes, Hotel Sahara Beach, Skanes, Houda Beach & Golf Resort,Skanes, Monastir and The Hotel Marhaba, Sousse.

Greece and the Greek Islands is another holiday hotspot which has seen its fair share of holiday hotel complaints in 2009, including complaints against: The Aghios Gordios Hotel, Corfu.

Holiday hotels in Cuba which have received complaints include: The Melia Las Dunas at Cayo Santa Maria.

contact Farnworth Rose Solicitors for free expert advice

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Tuesday, 18 August 2009

Hell´s Kitchen

Food poisoning can be fatal

Food poisoning in the UK is increasing. The number of cases of Salmonella has remained high in the past few years, and Campylobacter cases have doubled.

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claim phone 08000 154321 or click here for http://www.yourholidayclaims.co.uk/


Better training of food handlers needs to take place, and better care must be taken to ensure food is kept at the proper temperatures. Cross contamination is also a big problem which needs to be addressed.


Bacillus cereus

This is a spore forming bacteria which is often found in rice from take-away restaurants. Symptoms of Bacillus cereus include diarrhoea and abdominal cramps between 6-15 hours after consumption of contaminated food. Nausea may occur and symptoms usually last 24 hours.

Source of Bacillus cereus

You can contract the disease from meat, milk, vegetables and fish, but outbreaks have normally been associated with rice, potato, pasta and cheese products. Sauces, puddings, soups, casseroles, pastries and salads can also be contaminated.


Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause disease in humans and animals. Most human illness is caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Birds carry this illness without becoming ill themselves. Proper cooking, milk pasteurising and chlorination of water will all kill bacteria. This is the most common cause of acute bacterial diarrhoea in the UK. Symptoms include diarrhoea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within 2-5 days after exposure, and can include nausea and vomiting.

Sources of Campylobacter

Raw or undercooked meat and poultry, offal, contaminated water or milk. Contamination is usually from excreta of birds, cattle and family pets. 40,000 cases are reported annually in the UK.

Clostridium perfringens

This is distributed throughout the environment and is normally found in human and animal intestines. The illness is caused by bacteria releasing toxins in the digestive canal. Symptoms include intense abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and usually lasts less than 24 hours. It can last up to two weeks in severe cases. The illness can be mistaken with 24-hour flu.

Food sources

Meat, meat products and gravy are usually implicated with food poisoning caused by clostridium perfringens. The young and the elderly are most at risk.

Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum causes severe food poisoning, and is caused by the ingestion of foods containing the neurotoxin formed from bacteria. The illness is rare but can be fatal and can be destroyed by heating at 80ºC for at least 10 minutes. Symptoms can show up 4 hours to 8 days after ingestion, and include weakness, vertigo, double vision, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing, muscle weakness and constipation. Paralysis and death can follow between 18 and 36 hours later if untreated.

Food source

Incriminated foods include: tinned or vacuum-packed food.

Cryptosporidium parvum

Members of this family are parasites from the intestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Cryptosporidium is passed in the faeces and is common in drinking water which originated from drainage of agricultural land. Symptoms usually include short term diarrhoea unless you suffer from a compromised immune system which can make the illness more severe.

Escherichia coli (E coli)

Normally found in animal and human intestines, E coli can be serious. One group of bacteria cause severe infantile diarrhoea and another cause traveller´s diarrhoea. Food sources include undercooked minced beef and unpasteurised milk. The elderly or very young can develop anaemia and renal failure. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting and normally show between 10 and 72 hours after ingestion and last between 1 and 5 days.

Avoid E.coli

Ensure all meat is cooked thoroughly and juices run clear when spiked. Always avoid unpasteurised milk and separate raw and cooked foods to prevent cross contamination. Disinfect all surfaces and utensils used for food preparation. Wash hands regularly and always use a disinfectant hand wash.

Food source

Foods often incriminated include soft cheese, but the main contamination comes from food handlers.

Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a parasite which exists in two forms and lives in the small intestine, and is passed through faeces. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea from contaminated food or water.

Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne illness which is often transmitted to ready-to-eat foods, and is widely found in sewage and decaying vegetable matter. To avoid listeria always wash salads before use, never eat chilled products after the sell by date, and ensure your fridge is kept at the correct temperature. The onset of symptoms is normally 8 days to 3 months, and they include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Meningitis and blood poisoning can occur in pregnant women. Antibiotic treatment is effective.

Food source

Foods known to cause listeria include: salads, sandwiches, paté, cooked meat and ready meals. Other suspected foods include milk, ice cream, raw and smoked fish and soft cheese.

Salmonella

Salmonella is found in animals, including poultry and pigs and environmental sources include water, soil, insects, kitchen surfaces, animal faeces, raw meats and raw seafood. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache and normally start 6 to 48 hours after infection.

Shigella

Shigella is found in the intestine of man and other animals, and is also known as bacillary dysentery. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain and can start 12 hours to 2 days after infection. Foods incriminated include salads, raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, poultry and contaminated water.

Norwalk Virus

Norwalk Virus is an intestinal infection which occurs in outbreaks and is normally associated with shellfish. The virus is passed in the stool of infected persons and people get infected by swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. Other sources of infection include salads, eggs, ice and ready to eat foods. Norwalk is more common in adults and older children and symptoms normally appear within 10 days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.

Anyone can get Norwalk virus infection, but it may be more common in adults and older children. Illness normally lasts 24 to 60 hours.















Hell´s Kitchen

Food poisoning can be fatal

Food poisoning in the UK is increasing. The number of cases of Salmonella has remained high in the past few years, and Campylobacter cases have doubled.

Better training of food handlers needs to take place, and better care must be taken to ensure food is kept at the proper temperatures. Cross contamination is also a big problem which needs to be addressed.


Bacillus cereus

This is a spore forming bacteria which is often found in rice from take-away restaurants. Symptoms of Bacillus cereus include diarrhoea and abdominal cramps between 6-15 hours after consumption of contaminated food. Nausea may occur and symptoms usually last 24 hours.

Source of Bacillus cereus

You can contract the disease from meat, milk, vegetables and fish, but outbreaks have normally been associated with rice, potato, pasta and cheese products. Sauces, puddings, soups, casseroles, pastries and salads can also be contaminated.


Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause disease in humans and animals. Most human illness is caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Birds carry this illness without becoming ill themselves. Proper cooking, milk
pasteurising and chlorination of water will all kill bacteria. This is the most common cause of acute bacterial diarrhoea in the UK. Symptoms include diarrhoea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within 2-5 days after exposure, and can include nausea and vomiting.

Sources of Campylobacter

Raw or undercooked meat and poultry, offal, contaminated water or milk. Contamination is usually from excreta of birds, cattle and family pets. 40,000 cases are reported annually in the UK.

Clostridium perfringens

This is distributed throughout the environment and is normally found in human and animal intestines. The illness is caused by bacteria releasing toxins in the digestive canal. Symptoms include intense abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and usually lasts less than 24 hours. It can last up to two weeks in severe cases. The illness can be mistaken with 24-hour flu.

Food sources

Meat, meat products and gravy are usually implicated with food poisoning caused by clostridium perfringens. The young and the elderly are most at risk.

Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum causes severe food poisoning, and is caused by the ingestion of foods containing the neurotoxin formed from bacteria. The illness is rare but can be fatal and can be destroyed by heating at 80ºC for at least 10 minutes. Symptoms can show up 4 hours to 8 days after ingestion, and include weakness, vertigo, double vision, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing, muscle weakness and constipation. Paralysis and death can follow between 18 and 36 hours later if untreated.

Food source

Incriminated foods include: tinned or vacuum-packed food.

Cryptosporidium parvum

Members of this family are parasites from the intestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Cryptosporidium is passed in the faeces and is common in drinking water which originated from drainage of agricultural land. Symptoms usually include short term diarrhoea unless you suffer from a compromised immune system which can make the illness more severe.

Escherichia coli (E coli)

Normally found in animal and human intestines, E coli can be serious. One group of bacteria cause severe infantile diarrhoea and another cause traveller´s diarrhoea. Food sources include undercooked minced beef and unpasteurised milk. The elderly or very young can develop anaemia and renal failure. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting and normally show between 10 and 72 hours after ingestion and last between 1 and 5 days.

Avoid E.coli

Ensure all meat is cooked thoroughly and juices run clear when spiked. Always avoid unpasteurised milk and separate raw and cooked foods to prevent cross contamination. Disinfect all surfaces and utensils used for food preparation. Wash hands regularly and always use a disinfectant hand wash.

Food source

Foods often incriminated include soft cheese, but the main contamination comes from food handlers.

Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a parasite which exists in two forms and lives in the small intestine, and is passed through faeces. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea from contaminated food or water.

Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne illness which is often transmitted to ready-to-eat foods, and is widely found in sewage and decaying vegetable matter. To avoid listeria always wash salads before use, never eat chilled products after the sell by date, and ensure your fridge is kept at the correct temperature. The onset of symptoms is normally 8 days to 3 months, and they include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Meningitis and blood poisoning can occur in pregnant women. Antibiotic treatment is effective.

Food source

Foods known to cause listeria include: salads, sandwiches, paté, cooked meat and ready meals. Other suspected foods include milk, ice cream, raw and smoked fish and soft cheese.

Salmonella

Salmonella is found in animals, including poultry and pigs and environmental sources include water, soil, insects, kitchen surfaces, animal faeces, raw meats and raw seafood. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache and normally start 6 to 48 hours after infection.

Shigella

Shigella is found in the intestine of man and other animals, and is also known as bacillary dysentery. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain and can start 12 hours to 2 days after infection. Foods incriminated include salads, raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, poultry and contaminated water.

Norwalk Virus

Norwalk Virus is an intestinal infection which occurs in outbreaks and is normally associated with shellfish. The virus is passed in the stool of infected persons and people get infected by swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. Other sources of infection include salads, eggs, ice and ready to eat foods. Norwalk is more common in adults and older children and symptoms normally appear within 10 days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
Anyone can get Norwalk virus infection, but it may be more common in adults and older children. Illness normally lasts 24 to 60 hours.















Hell´s Kitchen

Food poisoning can be fatal

Food poisoning in the UK is increasing. The number of cases of Salmonella has remained high in the past few years, and Campylobacter cases have doubled.

Better training of food handlers needs to take place, and better care must be taken to ensure food is kept at the proper temperatures. Cross contamination is also a big problem which needs to be addressed.


Bacillus cereus

This is a spore forming bacteria which is often found in rice from take-away restaurants. Symptoms of Bacillus cereus include diarrhoea and abdominal cramps between 6-15 hours after consumption of contaminated food. Nausea may occur and symptoms usually last 24 hours.

Source of Bacillus cereus

You can contract the disease from meat, milk, vegetables and fish, but outbreaks have normally been associated with rice, potato, pasta and cheese products. Sauces, puddings, soups, casseroles, pastries and salads can also be contaminated.


Campylobacter

Campylobacter is a group of spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause disease in humans and animals. Most human illness is caused by Campylobacter jejuni. Birds carry this illness without becoming ill themselves. Proper cooking, milk
pasteurising and chlorination of water will all kill bacteria. This is the most common cause of acute bacterial diarrhoea in the UK. Symptoms include diarrhoea, cramping, abdominal pain and fever within 2-5 days after exposure, and can include nausea and vomiting.

Sources of Campylobacter

Raw or undercooked meat and poultry, offal, contaminated water or milk. Contamination is usually from excreta of birds, cattle and family pets. 40,000 cases are reported annually in the UK.

Clostridium perfringens

This is distributed throughout the environment and is normally found in human and animal intestines. The illness is caused by bacteria releasing toxins in the digestive canal. Symptoms include intense abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, and usually lasts less than 24 hours. It can last up to two weeks in severe cases. The illness can be mistaken with 24-hour flu.

Food sources

Meat, meat products and gravy are usually implicated with food poisoning caused by clostridium perfringens. The young and the elderly are most at risk.

Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum causes severe food poisoning, and is caused by the ingestion of foods containing the neurotoxin formed from bacteria. The illness is rare but can be fatal and can be destroyed by heating at 80ºC for at least 10 minutes. Symptoms can show up 4 hours to 8 days after ingestion, and include weakness, vertigo, double vision, difficulty in speaking, swallowing and breathing, muscle weakness and constipation. Paralysis and death can follow between 18 and 36 hours later if untreated.

Food source

Incriminated foods include: tinned or vacuum-packed food.

Cryptosporidium parvum

Members of this family are parasites from the intestinal tracts of fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Cryptosporidium is passed in the faeces and is common in drinking water which originated from drainage of agricultural land. Symptoms usually include short term diarrhoea unless you suffer from a compromised immune system which can make the illness more severe.

Escherichia coli (E coli)

Normally found in animal and human intestines, E coli can be serious. One group of bacteria cause severe infantile diarrhoea and another cause traveller´s diarrhoea. Food sources include undercooked minced beef and unpasteurised milk. The elderly or very young can develop anaemia and renal failure. Symptoms include abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea and vomiting and normally show between 10 and 72 hours after ingestion and last between 1 and 5 days.

Avoid E.coli

Ensure all meat is cooked thoroughly and juices run clear when spiked. Always avoid unpasteurised milk and separate raw and cooked foods to prevent cross contamination. Disinfect all surfaces and utensils used for food preparation. Wash hands regularly and always use a disinfectant hand wash.

Food source

Foods often incriminated include soft cheese, but the main contamination comes from food handlers.

Giardia lamblia

Giardia lamblia is a parasite which exists in two forms and lives in the small intestine, and is passed through faeces. Symptoms include severe diarrhoea from contaminated food or water.

Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne illness which is often transmitted to ready-to-eat foods, and is widely found in sewage and decaying vegetable matter. To avoid listeria always wash salads before use, never eat chilled products after the sell by date, and ensure your fridge is kept at the correct temperature. The onset of symptoms is normally 8 days to 3 months, and they include nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Meningitis and blood poisoning can occur in pregnant women. Antibiotic treatment is effective.

Food source

Foods known to cause listeria include: salads, sandwiches, paté, cooked meat and ready meals. Other suspected foods include milk, ice cream, raw and smoked fish and soft cheese.

Salmonella

Salmonella is found in animals, including poultry and pigs and environmental sources include water, soil, insects, kitchen surfaces, animal faeces, raw meats and raw seafood. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, fever and headache and normally start 6 to 48 hours after infection.

Shigella

Shigella is found in the intestine of man and other animals, and is also known as bacillary dysentery. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, vomiting and abdominal pain and can start 12 hours to 2 days after infection. Foods incriminated include salads, raw vegetables, milk and dairy products, poultry and contaminated water.

Norwalk Virus

Norwalk Virus is an intestinal infection which occurs in outbreaks and is normally associated with shellfish. The virus is passed in the stool of infected persons and people get infected by swallowing stool-contaminated food or water. Other sources of infection include salads, eggs, ice and ready to eat foods. Norwalk is more common in adults and older children and symptoms normally appear within 10 days. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
Anyone can get Norwalk virus infection, but it may be more common in adults and older children. Illness normally lasts 24 to 60 hours.

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Friday, 14 August 2009

10 ways to avoid 10 ways to avoid Salmonella food poisoning on holidayon holiday

Salmonella food poisoning can be one of the most severe forms of food poisoning you can suffer on holiday. Salmonella can strike you down at home or abroad, but can be particularly distressing if you are thousands of miles from home. Ten simple ways to help avoid salmonella food poisoning on holiday include:

For more information how to make a no win no fee no obligation compensation claim phone 08000 154321 or click here for http://www.yourholidayclaims.co.uk/

1. Wash your hands with hot water and soap after handling raw poultry or eggs.

2. If you are self-catering, keep raw meat and fish away from cooked foods in the fridge to avoid salmonella poisoning. Raw food should be stored on the bottom shelf of the fridge and well away from any cooked food or dairy products.

3. Never eat food in a holiday package hotel or on board a cruise ship that has been left out at room temperature for hours on end. All inclusive buffets are one of the main sources of food poisoning and salmonella on holiday.

4. Hot food needs to be piping hot and cold food needs to be properly chilled to prevent salmonella poisoning on holiday. If you think this is not the case in your holiday hotel or on board a cruise ship, refuse to eat the food to avoid salmonella poisoning and report it to the holiday representative.

5. If you are eating food on the beach or outdoors when the weather is hot, make sure it is kept properly chilled before you eat it. Salmonella can be caused by food being left in picnic bags in the back of a hot car, and then eaten. Take a cool box and only open it when you are ready to eat.

6. Food handlers should never handle money in between serving food, as bank notes are one of the biggest carriers of bacteria there is. If you suspect this is happening, report it to the hotel manager or the holiday representative.

7. Never eat from a salad bar if the food is not on ice, and avoid mayonnaise and salad dressing that has been left out at room temperature.

8. Only eat buffet spreads if the food is bought out fresh every so often, and not presented in large batches which can affect its temperature. Avoid salmonella poisoning and the spread of bacteria by making sure each dish has a separate clean serving spoon.

9. Avoid hotel barbecues if the food is not properly cooked and presented. Raw food should not be left uncovered before cooking, where it could be open to the elements and flies. Also, food needs to be thoroughly cooked before serving, which is not always easy to see if you are sitting outside in the evening. Hamburgers, sausages and poultry that is undercooked can cause salmonella food poisoning on holiday.

10. Clean plates and cutlery are a must in your holiday hotel, and food handlers must adhere to strict health and safety rules. More holidaymakers than ever are now suing tour operators who flout these rules. Tour operators who continue to send people to hotels and cruise ships which fail to meet even basic standards of health and safety are gambling with your health and well-being, and you could end up with salmonella food poisoning.

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