Children Hospitalised After Restaurant Serves Toxic Insect Repellent as Juice
Two young sisters were rushed to hospital in Perth, Australia, after a shocking restaurant mix-up saw them served insect repellent instead of cranberry juice. The incident, which occurred in June 2024, has resulted in the former restaurant owner being fined a substantial £20,000 for selling unsafe food.
A Terrifying Family Dinner Turns Dangerous
Sisters Hannah Lemin, aged 12, and Olivia Lemin, aged 11, were enjoying a family meal at Miky's Italian Fusion when they ordered two glasses of cranberry juice. Instead, they were handed glasses containing a pink-coloured citronella torch and lamp solution, commonly used as an insect repellent. The girls took large gulps of the toxic liquid before immediately spitting it out, crying to their parents that the drink tasted "poisoned".
Their mother, Michele Lemin, described the horrifying moment: "My daughters just went to gulp it down, and they both spat the cranberry juice out and said, 'It's poisoned'. I said, 'Don't be silly,' and took the glass, and I went to gulp it down and then spat it out." Olivia later recounted her fear, stating, "I was really scared of what it was, and I was scared I was gonna die." Hannah described the taste as "really disgusting, and how you would expect insect repellent to taste."
Immediate Health Effects and Hospitalisation
The sisters suffered severe physical symptoms shortly after consuming the repellent. Michele Lemin reported that her daughters experienced "burning stomachs, tingling fingers and hands, and headaches." Olivia elaborated on the pain, saying, "It felt like somebody had poured fire on your stomach and it felt like you had pins and needles in your arms and legs." The parents promptly rushed the girls to hospital, where they remained for several hours under observation before being discharged, following advice from the poisons information centre.
Michele Lemin expressed relief that the children were not younger, noting, "We're lucky that the children weren't younger. If they were younger children that this happened to, I'd hate to think what would have happened." The incident left the family traumatised, with both girls experiencing ongoing emotional distress.
Restaurant Owner Fined for Gross Negligence
Nearly two years after the incident, Perth Magistrates Court heard the case against the now-closed restaurant. Magistrate Donna Webb found the former owner, Michele Angiuli, 35, guilty of selling unsafe food. She criticised his failure to exercise proper care, stating that the business did not appear well-run and that staff lacked necessary food safety certifications.
Angiuli's lawyer attempted to shift blame onto the bartender, claiming "gross negligence" by an employee who had only worked there for two weeks. However, Magistrate Webb dismissed this argument as not credible. She emphasised the "vulnerability" of the children, who were served a "recognised poison" and suffered significant emotional trauma.
"The potential consequences to the complainants in this matter was significant. I can't imagine how terrifying it would've been for the parents," Magistrate Webb remarked. Angiuli was personally fined £10,000, and his company received an additional £10,000 fine, totalling £20,000.
Call for Industry Accountability
Following the hearing, the girls' father, Marcus Lemin, highlighted the broader implications of the case. He stated, "I think the issue for me is more that it drives a bit more rigour in the industry and that we get to a point where maybe business owners in the hospitality industry understand the accountabilities they hold." His comments underscore the need for stricter safety protocols in restaurants to prevent such dangerous oversights.
This alarming incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of food safety standards in the hospitality sector. The severe health risks posed by such mix-ups, particularly to children, demand vigilant oversight and rigorous training for all staff handling consumables.
