Chin Chin Restaurant is inside Springwood Tower Hotel. Pic: Richard Walker Source: News Corp Australia
MORE than 100 people have fallen sick from a food poisoning outbreak south of Brisbane.
Health officials today are urging diners who are ill after eating at Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant at Springwood to contact either their GP or seek treatment at a hospital rather than “suffer in silence”.
The number of confirmed patients climbed to over 100 overnight.
Earlier
Julie Holmes and her daughter Tayla are recovering after falling ill over the weekend. They were at the restaurant to celebrate Julie’s birthday.
HEALTH inspectors have shut down a popular family restaurant while they investigate one of the biggest food poisoning outbreaks in Queensland.
Up to 85 people fell ill after eating at Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant at Springwood on the weekend. Some were still in hospital last night.
Queensland Health has taken samples from the patients and believe the deep-fried ice cream could have been the source of contamination.
The restaurant placed a sign outside its doors saying it is closed for maintenance. Pic: Richard Walker
Logan City Council has slapped a temporary closure order on the restaurant.
“We have taken steps under the Food Act 2006 to ensure there is no further risk until the outcome of the investigation is known,” a council spokesman said.
A sign on the restaurant’s door yesterday read: “Closed for maintenance until further notice.”
Authorities say the closure order does not necessarily mean the restaurant is to blame for the outbreak because it may have been supplied with contaminated food.
Patrons have banded together to make nine formal complaints with the Metro South Health Service.
The Courier-Mail understands about 30 people suffered severe food poisoning symptoms on Saturday night and at least 50 more were ill after dining at the restaurant on Sunday.
Eight of the 15 people at Julie Holmes’ birthday dinner on Sunday night fell violently ill.
“At least six of us went to hospital — two stayed there the night,” she said. “Four of us were put on a drip.
“I haven’t eaten for three days. It’s just dreadful, the worst thing I’ve ever been through.”
Public health unit staff told her many complainants had the all-you-can-eat banquet and consumed the deep-fried ice cream.
Cheryl Broadhurst, who was in the same group, said her family was still feeling the effects of the poisoning.
Her 21-year-old daughter was rushed to Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital yesterday morning.
“They didn’t even ask her where she had eaten — they just knew,” Ms Broadhurst said. “She kept blacking out because she was so dehydrated.”
Chin Chin Chinese Restaurant did not answer calls yesterday or reply to an email by The Courier-Mail.
The establishment has enjoyed mostly positive reviews on sites such as Urban Spoon and TripAdvisor.
“It was always held in high esteem,” Ms Holmes said.
But its own Facebook site was attacked by people who fell ill, threatening legal action.