Caffe Nero Customer Needed Surgery After Swallowing Wire Bristle Found In Panini
A woman was left needing surgery after she unsuspectingly ate a wire bristle that was in her Caffe Nero panini.
The bristle became lodged in Katherine Willans’ throat after she ate the sandwich at the branch in Putney, southwest London.
She was sick for three days, before eventually being admitted to hospital on August 3 2014.
But Wimbledon Magistrates Court has now cleared Caffe Nero of four counts of breaching food hygiene regulations - because strict training procedures were already in place.
The training procedures even prohibited the use of wire brushes - but staff members used one to clean the grill regardless.
The bristle became lodged in Katherine Willans’ throat
The brushes were also found in Caffe Nero branches in Boston, Lincolnshire, and Clapham Junction, south London.
Describing her ordeal, Ms Willans, 34, said: ‘One of my reasons for bringing this case was because I didn’t want an unpleasant experience like this happening to anyone else.
‘Changing Caffe Nero’s procedures or protocols could help prevent that happening, but I feel that this verdict doesn’t necessarily mean that they will.’
Jonathan Goulding, representing Caffe Nero, said: ‘Despite the training, a member of staff acted entirely contrary to it and the evidence again is overwhelming about that.
‘The offences were down to the acts of fault of one of those members of staff.
‘This is a very regrettable thing that happened to Ms Willans, but it doesn’t mean that Caffe Nero are criminally liable for it.’
A spokesman for Wandsworth Council, which brought the prosecution, described the verdict as ‘very disappointing.’
He said: ‘At the end of the day an innocent Caffe Nero customer suffered a very serious injury that required surgery under general anaesthetic to put right.’
