Coast Bar and Restaurant denies it ‘poisoned’ diners with cleaning product

A Gosford restaurant accused of poisoning a family with grill cleaner mistaken for vinegar has “expressly denied” the allegation and says an investigation has found no evidence.

Coast Bar and Restaurant is at the centre of an alleged food poisoning scandal.

• 2019 State budget: Government on board for fast rail
• Massive roads, health investment on the Coast
• Coast Bar and Restaurant fined over work experience girls

A Gosford restaurant accused of poisoning a family with grill cleaner mistaken for vinegar has “expressly denied” the allegation.

Coast Bar and Restaurant on the Gosford waterfront is at the centre of a public food scandal after a family claims they were poisoned during a gathering at the venue on September 1 last year.

They later took their grievances to Channel 9’s A Current Affair which aired the story this week. Family members were identified by first name only as they described their experience at the restaurant.

A family says it was given cleaning product instead of vinegar for its fish and chips. Picture: istock

A number of family members ordered fish and chips to which they thought they were adding vinegar but instead experienced immediate burning of the mouth and throat with swollen and blistered lips. Ultimately some family members had to be taken to Gosford hospital.

The NSW Food Authority has issued a penalty notice to the business but said Coast Bar and Restaurant could challenge the fine. If found guilty, the incident would be recorded on the authority’s name and shame website.

An investigation has not found that cleaning product was inadvertently served instead of vinegar at a local restaurant.

Coast Bar and Restaurant released a statement to Channel 9 and remains adamant that an investigation has not supported the family’s allegations.

“We regret that some members of the family did not have a satisfactory experience at our restaurant on 1 September 2018, however we continue to believe the food served to the family was perfectly safe, in conjunction with the findings of the local food inspector and the NSW Food Authority,” the statement said.

“The investigation has not revealed any food contamination from a cleaning product as has been alleged by the family and any such allegation is expressly denied,” it said.

Coast Bar and Restaurant on Gosford waterfront.

“On the day the family attended the restaurant, two elderly members of the family complained of some discomfort and were taken by employees of Coast Bar and Restaurant to Gosford Hospital on a precautionary basis. Our employees remained there until the two members of the family were taken in for examination. The remaining ten members of the family remained at the restaurant enjoying their lunch for a couple of hours following.

“On the day, as a gesture of goodwill, Coast Bar and Restaurant did not charge the family for their meals and drinks and subsequently offered to cover the costs of the family attending another restaurant at a time of their choosing, however this was not taken up by the family.

“On the day, Coast Bar and Restaurant representatives met with the father of the family to follow up on the wellbeing of his family members, and to renew the offer.

“The father informed Coast Bar and Restaurant representatives that the family had made a report to the local council and would rather await the outcome of those investigations before discussing the matter any further.

“A Coast Bar and Restaurant representative contacted the family several times after meeting with the father to follow up once again on the family’s wellbeing however was informed that he was about to depart on a holiday and would make contact upon his return.

“The father has not contacted us upon his return. His daughter began communicating with Coast Bar and Restaurant representatives to arrange a meeting however this did not proceed in light of the commencement of an investigation by the NSW Food Authority. As mentioned above the investigation did not confirm any food contamination from a cleaning product.

“Coast Bar and Restaurant has earned a reputation on the Central Coast for serving freshly prepared food following the highest food safety standards and has had no other incident like this.

“As the matter may be the subject of further legal proceedings, it is not appropriate for us to make any further comment.”