Heston Blumenthal Sued Over Fat Duck Food Poisoning

British sports commentator Jim Rosenthal is suing chef Heston Blumenthal after he and five guests got sick from eating contaminated oysters at Blumenthal's Fat Duck restaurant in 2009. Despite Blumenthal's claims that he not only compensated the group £6,000 (US $9,300) for their £1,300 ($2,020) meal and wrote each guest an apology letter offering them a free meal, the judge is allowing the suit to go through.

In January 2009, 500 people (including Rosenthal and his guests) contracted the norovirus at the Fat Duck; After initially denying there was a problem, Blumenthal voluntarily closed the restaurant for three weeks. Charges were later dropped.

Rosenthal is furious and seeking reimbursement for the meal. As his attorney put it: "What is the value of a meal that is going to make you violently ill? It must be zero. No one is going to pay for a meal which is going to make them violently ill - so on that basis, he is entitled to get the cost back."

Maybe Blumenthal should look into increasing dishcloth sanitation?

· ITV host Jim Rosenthal Sues Fat Duck Chef Heston Blumenthal Over 'Disastrous' £1,300 Meal [Daily Mail]
· Restaurant Dishcloths 'Full of Bacteria' [BBC]
· All Heston Blumenthal coverage on Eater [-E-]

[Photo: Telegraph]