Expertise in Food Safety, Health & Safety and Infectious Diseases
Headline data shows that almost 80% of responders consider that not enough is being done to protect those at risk from foodborne allergens. Over 90% consider that local authorities have insufficient resources to effectively regulate them, and 74% consider that food businesses do not have the necessary tools and resources to effectively manage foodborne allergens.
Coroner’s Inquest into the Death of Celia Marsh – September 2022Dr Belinda Stuart-Moonlight was the only food safety expert witness instructed to provide evidence to the Avon Coroner’s Court in relation to food labelling, food manufacturing and supply chain issues following the tragic death of Celia Marsh. Celia was allergic to milk and suffered anaphylaxis caused by consumption of a wrap, one ingredient of which was contaminated with milk protein. The complex supply chain and manufacture under licence agreement provided potential for misplaced assumptions and assurances about product safety. A wide-ranging Prevention of Future Death report highlighted a number of actions to be taken by various bodies to help prevent similar deaths.
Water Company Case – June 2021Dr Belinda Stuart-Moonlight acted to provide the Court with an analysis of the risk of harm to human health from unauthorised sewage discharges impacting on shellfish quality. She gave expert opinion on survival of viruses and consequent risk and severity of illness following ingestion of shellfish by consumers in affected regions. The company pleaded guilty and was fined £90 million.
Bath & North East Somerset Council v Pret a Manger – May 2021Dr Belinda Stuart-Moonlight acted as the only expert witness in this significant trial. The charge was that Isobel Colnaghi, a student from Bath, had been provided with a sandwich not of the substance demanded and that this had caused her to suffer an allergic reaction. The jury heard evidence regarding the inadequacies of the investigation, and the company’s due diligence. It took them just minutes to return a not guilty verdict.
Food Allergen Reaction Cases
Allergen contamination of food has been in the news consistently in the last few years, often for the wrong reasons. Dr Belinda Stuart-Moonlight has acted as an expert witness in a number of manslaughter trials including R v Kuddus and Rashid and the Royal Spice Takeaway, and R v Mohammed Zaman.
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