Dozens fall ill with ‘severe’ food poisoning at sold-out festival after ‘eating at Yorkshire Pudding stall’

DOZENS of revellers at a sold-out festival were struck down with severe food poisoning after reportedly eating from a Yorkshire Pudding stall. Environmental health officials are investigating after being told about a spike in food poisoning cases at Truck Festival in Steventon, Oxfordshire. A Yorkshire Pudding stall allegedly caused revellers to suffer with upset stomachs Credit: Alamy Festival-goers suffered with food poisoning Credit: Handout One festival-goer claimed unwell revellers “mobbed” the toilets as the outbreak unfolded at Hill Farm last weekend. And it later emerged that most of those who reported upset stomachs had bought food from The Yorky food stall. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Some 30,000 people attended the four-day bash, which cost £320 a ticket and featured stars such as the Maccabees, The Wombats and Two Door Cinema Club. Dubbed the “UK’s most warped village fete”, the event has been running since 1998 and is known for its wacky entertainment. Customer reported upset stomachs who had bought food from The Yorky food stall Credit: Alamy Truck Festival was held last weekend in Oxfordshire Credit: Alamy But it was revellers’ stomachs that were left feeling unusual after the event. The festival’s website previously featured a picture of the stand, although this has now seemingly been removed. A screenshot taken before the image disappeared shows the eatery being promoted as “traditional Yorkshire roast wraps with trimmings”. It offered British roast pork, premium pork sausage, roast chicken and a “Giant Yorkshire Pudding with creamy mash potato”. Most read in The Sun Steakhouse chips, stuffing, gravy and mushy peas were also on the menu. The outbreak was reportedly so severe one woman had to be taken to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford for further tests, with doctors told her she had suspected food poisoning, the Daily Mail reports. Revellers have since complained online about the outbreak. One person wrote on the Truck Festival Facebook group: “Shall we discuss the elephant in the room – who else got food poisoning from a f***ing Yorkshire Pudding? “Having the trots with those toilets is NOT for the faint of heart.” A second reveller replied: “Yup, only just recovered. Luckily I was staying off site, how on earth people managed who camped. “Definitely needs to be reported. Yorky need to review their practice. And Truck need to review who they invite to sell to their punters.” The customer complained to Truck Festival and later received an apology email which read: “I can tell you that on Sunday morning we were made aware of similar reports via our medics. “Our health and safety team was able to quickly identify the suspected source as a third-party vendor which was removed from operation within 90 minutes of the first report. “During the day we also completed and passed on a report to the local Environmental Health Officer, who we are assisting in carrying out further investigations.” One disgruntled festival-goer said they complained to staff at the stall about how the chicken in their £17 meal was not cooked properly. It was not clear if she ate the food or ended up unwell. Another told the Daily Mail: “It soon became clear that a lot of people were ill. A couple camping next to us were in the medical tent all day on Sunday. “I saw a lot of people repeatedly rushing to the toilets which were mobbed. The medical tent was handing out Imodium left, right and centre.” The reveller added that the stall was immediately shut down when the issue became clear – but only after people had been eating from it for all of Saturday. Some of those affected are now considering legal action, the report said. The Yorky is believed to be operated by the Cardiff-based firm Event Mobile Catering. The company services the biggest festivals in the country, including Glastonbury, Boomtown, Download and Creamfields. It also serves up grub at iconic national sport venues like Silverstone and the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. A spokesman for Truck Festival told the Daily Mail: “On Sunday morning, our on-site medical team received reports from a number of attendees with similar symptoms. “Our Health and Safety team launched an immediate investigation and identified a third-party food vendor as the suspected source. That vendor was removed from operation within 90 minutes of the first report. “We reported our findings to the local Environmental Health Officer the same day and are supporting their ongoing investigation into the cause. “We share the disappointment and frustration of those whose weekend was affected.” Vale of White Horse District Council confirmed the festival had informed it of a number of revellers reporting food poisoning symptoms. The council is now investigating alongside the food stall, the UK Health Security Agency and the trader’s local registering authority Cardiff City Council. The Sun has approached The Yorky’s operating company, Event Mobile Catering, for comment. 1 comment1