200 French people became ill over contaminated mussels

MORE than 200 people became ill in France after eating contaminated mussels exported by a West Cork seafood company, a court heard yesterday.

Bantry Bay Mussels, trading as Bantry Bay Seafoods, pleaded guilty to 10 breaches of EU food hygiene regulations at a special sitting, in Bandon, of Bantry District Court.

The company admitted placing contaminated mussels on the market between July 2007 and March 2008, which led to 219 people becoming ill in France.