Darlington pub landlord pleads not guilty to salmonella outbreak charge

A PUB landlord has appeared in court in connection with an outbreak of salmonella that left six people in hospital.

Phillip Armstrong, who runs the Copper Beech, in Neasham Road, Darlington, pleaded not guilty to a charge of placing unsafe food injurious to health on the market at Darlington Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday, March 12).

The court heard that Mr Armstrong’s plea has been entered under the defence of due diligence, which argues that he took all reasonable steps to prevent a potential outbreak.

The charge relates to a period between June 2 and 19 last year when 31 people fell ill as a result of salmonella food poisoning after eating at the pub.

A case management hearing will be held in the same court on March 26, ahead of a three-day trial.

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Comments(8)

NO EINSTEIN says...
4:18pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I feel sorry for all the food poisoning victims, but also sorry for this Landlord.
He did not intentionally give these people food poisoning, and can't be blamed for buying a bad bit of meat etc.
Even if you cook certain food perfectly, if its a bad one, its a bad one, i really don't think, in fact i know there was no intent here to make people ill.
His pub must be inspected by the council too, to which if it was below standard they would of shut him down.
(And no i don't know him, its just common sense) something that seems to be missing these days.

still here says...
9:48pm Tue 12 Mar 13

I have eaten at The Copper Beech many, many times and love the food there. It is a great pub superbly run by Phil and his staff and I think this was an unfortunate incident. I wish him and his staff all the best. I have eaten there since and will continue to do so.

Ally F says...
7:56am Wed 13 Mar 13

Well, the customers fell ill between June 2 and 19th 2012.

The pub was subsequently inspected by Environmental Health on 26th July 2012....

http://ratings.food.
gov.uk/business/en-G
B/232977

hmmm.....

Boowho says...
11:23am Wed 13 Mar 13

I have eating there a few times and the foods wasnt cook the parmo was raw never will I eat from there again

kevmacka says...
11:44am Wed 13 Mar 13

Ally F. The pub was visited by the Environmental Health and also the council. Both were satisfied with the what they saw and were happy to let the business carry on. Nobody doubts that customers became ill and it was upsetting for all concerned including the proprietors who shut the business down of their own accord until investigations were completed.
http:// await the facts before judging?????? hmmm..........

battboy77 says...
1:52pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Boowho wrote:
I have eating there a few times and the foods wasnt cook the parmo was raw never will I eat from there again
You may want to try the alphabetti spaghetti next time you go!

battboy77 says...
1:55pm Wed 13 Mar 13

Good food, But too expensive to drink there....my only gripe!

shirt of blue says...
6:03pm Wed 13 Mar 13

battboy77 wrote:
Boowho wrote:
I have eating there a few times and the foods wasnt cook the parmo was raw never will I eat from there again
You may want to try the alphabetti spaghetti next time you go!
very amusing

click2find

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