Restaurant fined for serving spoiled food

Feb 01, 2001
Devyani Banerjee

A Tartu University student called Mele, ate this dish at the restaurant on Jan. 19 and fell ill. She had a high temperature, headaches and vomited all weekend.

Byblos, which can be found on Town Hall Square, has had problems before with the Health Protection Inspectorate. Last September, several people are said to have contracted salmonella after having a tiramisu dessert, at Byblos.

When the restaurant owner Alberto Lovati was questioned about the veracity of the allegations, he said "I have been framed and both allegations are not true."

On the subject of last autumn's salmonella scandal, Lovati said: "One waitress at my restaurant complained of uneasiness after having tiramisu. A sample of the dessert was tested in a laboratory, but no virus was found."

However, Lovati could not deny that the waitress, as well as the chief cook, tested positive for salmonellosis.

"The Health Protection Insptorate fined me 4,600 kroons [$275]," he continued, "because I did not have a cold room in the restaurant, which is mandatory for all restaurants preparing their own desserts and ice creams."

Since then, Lovati says he has been buying desserts and ice creams from outside.

Talking about the more recent lasagna scandal, Lovati said: "I find the entire drama very fishy. Why did the lady, after feeling uneasy, decide first to talk to the media rather than contacting me?," he asked.

He added that the alleged victim should produce a check as proof that she had really eaten at the restaurant, plus the results of the relevant medical analysis. If she failed to do so, Lovati warned ,"I shall take her to court for defamation."

A team from the Health Protection Inspectorate visited the restaurant on Jan. 22 to make an on-the-spot check. Lovati admitted that pork and some ravioli found in the freezer were out of date, and that peeled and sliced fruit was being kept in the same refrigerator. Lovati quickly tried to clarify the situation.

"The meat was not meant to be served and the ravioli was meant for our personnel department," he said. "The pig meat that was used to prepare the lasagna on Friday was well within the usable period at the time."

Agnes Jurgens, an adviser at the Health Protection Inspectorate confirmed that following the visit to Byblos on Jan. 22 a decision was taken to fine the owner, Alberto Lovati, 2,650 kroons "because we discovered out of date food stuffs and filthy conditions inside the kitchen."

"According to a report received by my department from the laboratory, in one or two food samples the content of yeast fungi exceeded permitted levels."

In his defense, Lovati claims that there are many restaurants on Town Hall Square that do not have cold rooms and are still producing their own desserts and ice creams.

"Why am I being singled out and fined?," he asked.

Jurgens said, "Our department has laid down certain rules and conditions for opening restaurants and they are uniform for all restaurant owners in Estonia. All erring people are fined. We do not single anyone out."

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