Cynthia Busuttil
Nurse finds mouse head in her food
The health authorities have launched an investigation after a nurse at Mater Dei Hospital reported finding the head of a mouse in her food.
The nurse found the remains while eating in the staff canteen on Monday.
"We are expecting actions to be taken against the contractor and want to know what safeguards will be taken in the future," the president of the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses Paul Pace said yesterday.
The Health Division said hospital management took immediate action to launch investigations, with public health inspectors going on site to verify facts and draw up the first reports.
Papillon Caterers, which supplies meals for hospital staff, said it had destroyed all the stock furnished by the particular supplier, terminated all ties with him and was seeking legal advice as to what action it could take.
"The contractor is completely confident that the incident did not arise in-house," the Health Division said, adding that local health inspectors, who were conducting an inspection at the canteen, found the contractor and the kitchen to be up to scratch and complying with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) catering standards required by EU legislation. The canteen and kitchen also passed quality control.
When contacted, Papillon Caterers' managing director John Buttigieg at first questioned the newsworthiness of the incident, although he was later helpful and answered all questions.
Mr Buttigieg said the caterer - which supplies the staff meals - uses the HACCP system, which is "foolproof". The system is an internationally-recognised way of managing food safety and protecting consumers. He said the "object" probably was with the imported frozen vegetables.
The health authorities said the vegetables were imported frozen from Belgium after being processed and packed in Holland and, since the item seems to have originated from abroad, they informed the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed to recall the batch from the European market and investigate it.
Moreover, the local inspectorate has contacted the supplier and sealed the packages from the same delivery.
Mr Buttigieg said the caterer serves about 600 people daily and this was a one-off case. Moreover, the contract with the vegetables supplier has been terminated.
A similar incident occurred in Finland earlier this year when a hospital patient found a mouse head among the steamed vegetables on his plate. An article on ABC News website said the severed head had most likely originated in a bag of Belgian vegetables.
21 Comments
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Mark Hall
Sep 10th 2008, 12:41
Didn't know that in Mater Dei one has more chance of food poisoning than in our normal cheap restaurants.
Ramon Casha
Sep 4th 2008, 06:03
In an unrelated development, the head chef is requesting help to find his pet white mouse which escaped from its cage just above the vegetable rack. >:D
M. Fenech
Sep 3rd 2008, 18:17
@ Simon Amato
Same bad taste capuccino @ M.I.A. .... i wonder why!! Both are operated by the same caterer:)))
R. Bartolo
Sep 3rd 2008, 17:30
Anybody who was at university, and ate at the canteen, knows that mice are not the worst things the same Caterers can serve.
Emanuel Ebejer
Sep 3rd 2008, 16:35
Maybe it really was on the menu...and no-one noticed.!! :)
C.Psaila
Sep 3rd 2008, 15:44
It is amazing!!! The head of a mouse in the plate of people who try their best to help cure people.
Astonishing how this canteen is still open and how some staff still go there.
Why is it still open? We do not know where the rest of the mouse is...
Dominic Camilleri
Sep 3rd 2008, 15:34
TODAY'S MENU at Mater Dei Hospital.
Starters.
Rat soup Or Rat Imqrun.
Main course.
Rat Steak, with Rat Gravey & Patata Mash Including Rat salad.
Chicken cooked & Marinated in Rat Juice including cawslaw mixed with rat Mayonaise.
Exra portion's of rat please ask at the front desk. Hehehehe.
Just Change the Caterers, Heard so much about them in the past, It feels so good when we hear that forigen companys take over..
Noel Enriquez
Sep 3rd 2008, 15:23
Was it 'a la carte' or a set menu?
C. Schembri
Sep 3rd 2008, 14:53
what about the remaining vegetables which were is the same pan which were cooked with the head? What about the head's juice which was served to the others??
I guess from the 600 people who are served daily there are quite a few vegetable lovers who are feeling a bit sick today after hearing the news!!
SIMON AMATO
Sep 3rd 2008, 14:45
I HOPE THAT THE SUPPLIERS WILL HAVE THEIR CONTRACT TERMINATED!!. IN MY OPINION EVEN THE MAIN CANTEEN AT MATER DEI IS NOT GOOD. SORRY TO SAY ESPECIALLY THE CAPUCCINO!! BAD TASTE EVERY TIME I HAD A CUP. THE SAME ONE AT THE AIRPORT..OMG META HA NITGHALLMU???.
v.vella
Sep 3rd 2008, 12:38
Moreover, the local inspectorate has contacted the supplier and sealed the packages from the same delivery.
Yesterday it was reported that the rest of the stock was destroyed!
Tonio Montebello
Sep 3rd 2008, 12:28
Same thing happened in a Finland hospital and the vegetables were from Belgium. Check out this article: http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKKIM66836020080126
Alf Farrugia
Sep 3rd 2008, 11:57
Another illegal infiltration to our Islands
a farrugia
Sep 3rd 2008, 11:34
An alternative illegal infiltration!!!
R. Bartolo
Sep 3rd 2008, 11:11
No! Not Ratatouille! =(
S Buttigieg
Sep 3rd 2008, 10:52
HATE TO SAY THIS BUT "WHERE'S THE REST OF THE MOUSE"?'
DID ANY OF THE STAFF WHO USE THE CANTEEN REMEMBER OF EATING A CRUNCHY OR CHEWY VEGIE.????
THAT NURSE WAS LUCKY IT WAS THE HEAD, BUT THE REST......?
M.Farrugia
Sep 3rd 2008, 10:51
I don't care what the caterer is saying to safeguard himself, a bunch of lies !! As a worker in MDH we are fed up of this caterer ,never given a decent meal. Are the ants and other live bugs imported? Please enlighten us
Paul Attard
Sep 3rd 2008, 10:42
I think the kitchen should have been closed for a period of time. I still would hold the caterer responsable. If all the staff had food handelling training this mouse head should have never got served. This is madness. But I am sure nothing will happen. I am just happy it got pulblished on The Times so the people may Judge themselfs.
Please inform us of what action is taken
L Galea
Sep 3rd 2008, 10:39
pssssttt
Nurse don't shout or you may be charged extra for the meat
Hamish Dempster
Sep 3rd 2008, 10:11
The supplier should have been sued for not having put the delicacy on the menu.
C Attard
Sep 3rd 2008, 09:36
Remember Joyce Xriha?
Aqbaduli
Oqtoluli
Armihuli il-ġurdien
Ma kienx kbir
Kien tal-imramma
ċkejken kien
Aqbaduli
Oqtoluli
Armihuli il-ġurdien
X'qatgħa tagħni
U kif ħassni
ħass ħażin!
LOL!