UAE | Health

Food poisoning deaths: Lotus Garden's owner feels pinch

The owner of the Lotus Garden, a Chinese restaurant implicated in the food poisoning deaths of two Dubai children, believes his kitchen, food, staff and outlet will be fully vindicated by authorities.

  • By Mick O'Reilly, Deputy Managing Editor
  • Published: 23:01 June 25, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/Gulf News
  • The Lotus Garden restaurant in Al Qusais. The owner, Parvez T. Hamdulay, believes that Dubai Municipalityneeds to educate consumers on the storage of takeaway food, making sure it is consumed soon after delivery.

Dubai: The owner of the Lotus Garden, a Chinese restaurant implicated in the food poisoning deaths of two Dubai children, believes his kitchen, food, staff and outlet will be fully vindicated by authorities.

Speaking exclusively to Gulf News on Thursday, Parvez T. Hamdulay said all the other diners who dined at or ordered takeaway from the Lotus Garden on June 11 are fine.

"We have never had as much as a single complaint against us," the 43-year-old Indian national said.

"We have never had as much as a single infraction or fine imposed on us during all of our inspections by Dubai Municipality officials in the two years we have been open."

"This has been an exceedingly difficult time for us," he said. "We have cooperated fully with the officials and we are helping in every way possible."

As the father of a girl, Hamdulay said he feels terrible for the loss of 7-year-old Chelsea and 5-year-old Nathan suffered by Patrick and Anne-Sophie D'Souza.

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Nathan, Chelsea and Anne-Sophie woke up in the early morning hours of Friday, June 12, with stomach pains and vomiting.

They were later treated at NMC Hospital in Al Qusais and released. Nathan's condition seriously deteriorated, and he died later that day at NMC.

Chelsea and her mother were then transferred to Dubai Hospital, where Chelsea died the next day.

Late Wednesday night, officials briefed the D'Souzas on the findings of their investigation, and on Thursday the couple was making arrangements to fly to France for their children's funerals.

"I don't have enough words to be able to express how I feel," he said. "This has devastated my staff, and there are 18 familiies who are feeling the pain of this, which is nothing compared to the pain the D'Souzas feel."

On the night in question, the 48-seat restaurant was busy, with a good turnout of guests. As well as the diners, the kitchen also prepared around 70 take-away orders.

"I understand that the D'Souzas had ordered from us before," Hamdulay says. "The order was for four dishes: rice, noodles, fish and chicken."

As with all orders, the individual dishes were prepared fresh by a cook, with any meats or marinated items being removed from the chiller immediately before cooking in the wok. "Everybody else who ate there that night - and every other time - was fine," he says.

"The meal was cooked to order, placed in microwaveable takeaway food containers, and delivered by one of our three drivers on duty that night."

When contacted by police and Dubai municipal food quality inspectors on Saturday, Hamdulay was shocked. "I couldn't believe it," he said.

He watched as officials checked the list of takeout orders for the Thursday night, listening intently as they called each number, checking to make sure all of the customers were fine."

"'Hamdulilah,' the officer said after each call, 'they are good'," Hamdulay recalled.

He firmly believes that Dubai Municipality needs to educate consumers on the storage of takeaway food, making sure it is consumed soon after delivery.

"I'm not sure you can place a warning on each container, because there are so many different types of food being delivered, and each needs to be handled in their own way," he said. "But there is a need to educate the public."

For now, the restaurant remains closed, and faces an uncertain future even if it reopens. "For the moment, my staff are still being paid, but for how long..." Hamdulay says.

Are you worried about food poisoning? What precautions do you take to prevent this from happening? Are food safety regulations stringent enough?

Your comments


I request the authorities to keep an eye on hygeinisity of Hotel kitchens. This will help customer to get quality food.
Thilak Shetty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 16:37

I personally do not think that Lotus Garden restaurant should be fined or shutdown. I guess the food was not properly stored before consumption by the family leading to bacterial growth, owing to the humid temperature in Dubai at the moment and causing a case of food poisoning. This can be proved as the other diners who dined and took away food from the restaurant the same day were fine and only the two children had suffered. And I personally think that NMC was also quite responsible for the children's death as I have not liked the treatment they give there. If the restaurant is closed or it's license suspended, then the staff and their families will also suffer. Plus, many people who used to dine there would also miss dining in their favorite restaurant.
Ashwin
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 16:21

I have been living in the UAE for 20 years and bad food was rarely a concern. However the risk of falling ill is a possibilty that can strike regardless of where you eat. It's just one of those non-controlable factors. But a hospital unable to provide adequate treatment raises an eyebrow and I believe NMC should be held responsible.
Faiza Tarek Quraishi
Karachi,Pakistan
Posted: June 26, 2009, 15:22

i dont think that the restaurant should be penalised. This can happen with any restaurant. I would only blame the hospital authourities for their irresponsible attitude. I too have very bad experiences with NMC. I hope the relevant authorities will take action against this.
J. T.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 13:12

Food poisioning if treated well can be controlled.I think it is Fully the responsiblity of NMC which I feel do no have properly trained staff to deal with emergencies.The UAE authorities should ensure that the health centers in the country is well staffed.
Sasi
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 11:38

lotus hotel shoud be closed 4 temporary period of time,the relevant authorities should strictly take the case seriously.
Jason
Sharjah,U.A.E
Posted: June 26, 2009, 11:32

I feel it is very insensitive to compare the pain of losing 2 child in losing an income. I hope that no one will experience what the D'souza's went through.
Mark
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 10:39

lot of resturants they are not worrying about complaints, one restuarant i found wallmounting needle in snacks one of the customer he came to complaint to the owner nobody caring about him, no answer for him also. they are using polthene covers, in restaurant for salads,concern dept take care for this please
Mani
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 10:35

Yes, sure authorities has to educate and impose on people that how to handle food and eating items in summer seasons. Because of hi temp and humid conditions foods will damage very easily and fast. moreover Authority has to thoroughly check the standards for food outlets here.
Shine
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 26, 2009, 10:34

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