Cardiff Woman Endures Year of Illness After Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Pork Snacks
A woman from Cardiff has revealed how a single bag of pork scratchings left her battling severe illness for nearly an entire year, following a major national food poisoning outbreak. Ruanda Davis, 64, consumed Mr Porky pork scratchings in June 2021 and quickly became violently unwell, with her ordeal highlighting significant concerns about food safety standards.
Severe Symptoms and Hospitalisation Following Consumption
Within hours of eating the snack product, Ruanda experienced acute gastric symptoms that rapidly escalated. Due to her existing disability and impaired mobility, she struggled to cope with the sudden onset of vomiting and diarrhoea. In the early hours of the following morning, she fell while attempting to get out of bed, sustaining a head injury that required emergency ambulance assistance.
She was subsequently admitted to hospital, where she spent five days receiving intensive intravenous fluids to treat severe dehydration. Medical tests confirmed she had contracted Salmonella, placing her among hundreds affected across the UK during the widespread outbreak.
Extended Health Consequences and Lasting Impact
Although the initial vomiting eventually subsided, Ruanda continued to suffer from persistent diarrhoea and abnormal bowel function for almost a full year after being discharged from hospital. Speaking publicly for the first time about her traumatic experience, she described how the incident has fundamentally altered her life.
"This experience has changed my life," Ruanda stated. "The night I fell ill was terrifying. I was alone, struggling to get out of bed because of my disability, and ended up injuring myself. I've never been so ill in my life. Even after I came home I wasn't the same. My health and confidence have suffered and even now, years on from my ordeal, I'm still a lot more careful about what I eat."
She expressed particular concern that her case was not isolated, noting that many others appeared to have suffered similar consequences from the contaminated products.
National Outbreak and Product Recall
The Mr Porky products, manufactured by Tayto Group Ltd at their factory in Bolton, were subject to a major recall in September 2021 after health authorities received reports of 179 people suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting and fever. More than 100 individuals specifically reported becoming unwell after consuming the pork scratchings, indicating a significant public health issue.
Legal Proceedings and Company Accountability
Tayto Group Ltd later appeared in court and pleaded guilty to two serious charges: placing unsafe food on the market and failing to protect food for human consumption from contamination. The company received substantial fines as a result of the legal proceedings.
Following the hearing, the company issued a formal apology for the harm caused. A Tayto Group spokesman stated: "Tayto Group accepts the court's decision regarding the incident at our Bolton factory in August 2021. We take this matter extremely seriously and apologise sincerely for the harm caused to those who were affected. The safety of our customers is our highest priority and we regret that we fell short on this occasion."
The spokesman further explained that once the company became aware of the issue, they voluntarily ceased production and initiated a comprehensive product recall of all items manufactured at the Bolton site. The court acknowledged that Tayto Group demonstrated exceptional cooperation with authorities, undertaking significant voluntary actions to address the problem.
Compensation Settlement and Legal Commentary
Ruanda is among numerous individuals who received compensation after law firm Irwin Mitchell brought a civil case against Tayto Group. The firm secured a collective out-of-court settlement exceeding £300,000 through a group action, although the company maintained its denial of liability throughout the process.
Nadhia Akthar, an expert public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, commented on the broader implications of the case: "This case highlights the devastating impact that contaminated food can have on individuals and families. Bacterial illnesses such as Salmonella can often lead to ongoing and long-lasting health problems and even death. That's why their severity should never be downplayed."
She further noted that some of those represented in the case required hospitalisation due to symptom severity and complications, with one individual forced to leave their employment and another experiencing significant business difficulties as a direct consequence of their illness.
Food Safety Lessons and Preventative Measures
Ruanda emphasised the importance of public awareness regarding food poisoning risks, stating: "People need to know how serious food poisoning can be. By sharing my story I hope food manufacturers take every possible step to keep their products safe and protect the public. I wouldn't want anyone else to have gone through what I have."
Tayto Group has confirmed implementing improved procedures since the incident to prevent any recurrence, asserting their commitment to learning from the experience and maintaining the highest possible food safety standards moving forward.
