Mar 3 • 08:28 UTC 🇦🇺 Australia ABC News AU

Breaking: Restaurant fined $40k after children served citronella instead of cranberry juice

A restaurant in Perth was fined $40,000 after two children drank insect repellent instead of cranberry juice due to a mix-up.

In a disturbing incident in Perth, two young girls were served citronella, an insect repellent, instead of cranberry juice at Miky's Italian Fusion restaurant. This mistake led to the children falling ill, as they complained that their drinks tasted 'poisoned.' The parents of the girls took them to the hospital, where they received treatment for their unintentional ingestion of a hazardous substance. The incident raised concerns about food safety standards at the establishment, prompting an investigation by the Department of Health.

The restaurant's former owner, Michele Angiuli, faced legal repercussions for this grievous error and was taken to Perth Magistrates Court. After the proceedings, Angiuli was found guilty of selling unsafe food and failing to uphold food safety regulations. The court imposed a hefty fine of $40,000, which signifies the seriousness of the violation and the potential dangers posed by such negligence in the food service industry. This case serves as a warning to other establishments about the critical importance of adhering to health and safety standards to protect customers, particularly vulnerable populations like children.

As a result of this incident, the reputation of Miky's Italian Fusion has suffered greatly, leading to its closure. The consequences of serving unsafe food extend beyond financial penalties; they can severely damage trust, customer loyalty, and overall public health. This event underscores the need for all restaurants to prioritize safety and properly train staff to avoid similar occurrences in the future, ensuring that customers can dine out without fear of endangerment from contaminated or hazardous products.

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