[Justin.S]

I was on a delayed flight with my family from Mauritius to London Heathrow on 22nd December 2010 (12 hours). The food looked stale but with 12 hours on the flight we all did the best we could with eating what we could. I had a different meal from my family. The next day I started getting stomach problems which then severely progressed. For the benefit of this site, it would be fair to say I was housebound. It has been confirmed through my doctor that I have Salmonella. The only food I had different to my family was on this flight. When well enough, I contacted the airline on 4th January 2011 via their email customer relations, highlighting my condition and requesting to know whether any other crew/passengers had reported any conditions of salmonella, gastrointestinal complaints, stomach aches and the like. Aside from an automated email acknowledgement, I have heard nothing. This despite sending two further emails requesting any update.

I have today formally emailed the AUC in England with my complaint, however they have an automated response in relation to a backlog due to the volcanic ash cloud, so it may be some days before I receive any contact.

Due to the condition of Salmonella, it is registered by doctors with the Environmental Health Departments both locally and centrally. Does anyone know if this information is publically available?

Also, does anyone have any advice on what I can do if the airline refuses to respond because I believe Air Mauritius to be at fault?

[jimworcs]

Send them a registered letter and tell them that you intend to file a claim in Small Claims Court in 30 days unless you ahve a response.

You have two problems.. first, establishing your damages and second proving liability. You can report the incident to the environmental health and they can find out if others were sick. I think the chances of proving this are remote and you may be better off just avoiding them in future.

You can file the claim at

https://www.moneyclaim.gov.uk/web/mcol/welcome

It is cheap and can be done online. You may also want to contact BAA and ask them if there have been any other reports. I am not sure if the environmental health department at LHR would track this.

[Justin.S]

jimworcs - thank you for your response and assistance. I will keep you posted...

[HoustonFlyer]

You would have a very difficult time proving you got the salmonella from the food. Most likely they have reputable caterers preparing the food who would be able to show that their kitchens are up to standard. You may need to show that the airline continued to use a caterer knowing that they have had a history of unsanitary food.

For my part I often stop at one of the consignees selling sandwiches just before boarding and get something to take on board. If the food looked stale and you went ahead and ate it, it could be said you were contributorily responsible for your misfortune. You could have tried telling the FA the food looked stale and could they bring you something else, even peanuts or pretzels. After all that is better than salmonella.

[disney05lover]

read your article and was just curious where you stayed in mauritius. I too returned from mauritius with salmonela. not an experience I ever wish to repeat. however mine i belive 100% came from the hotel... I feltvery ill on the flight home in fact off colour couple days before leaving hotel.

i too am having similar problems proving where it was contracted. I never ate anywhere but the hotel...it seems you can take 72 hrs to fully develop the illness..

Have to say i flew air mauritius with 5 others noen of them were ill eating the airline food but two were also ill.. one who ate similar to me at the hotel....