Water company denies infecting oysters

Heston Blumenthal said raw sewage being pumped into the River Colne was behind an outbreak of norovirus at his restaurant.

He made the comments on Jonathan Ross’s chat show when he was asked about the outbreak that affected more than 500 diners at the chef’s three Michelin-starred restaurant in Berkshire last year.

A report by the Health Protection Agency said raw oysters from Colchester Oyster Fishery, based in East Road, East Mersea, might have been contaminated with human sewage.

It said tests of the oyster beds showed they were infected with norovirus, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Anglian Water, which runs a nearby sewage treatment plant, denied a link.

Spokeswoman Sara Rowland said: “We don’t pump raw sewage into the sea.

“That hasn’t happened since Victorian times.

“There is no proven link between the activities of Anglian Water and the outbreak of norovirus at his restaurant.”

Mr Blumenthal told Ross: “It turned out while we were buying the oysters from an incredibly reputed company, Colchester in Essex had the highest levels of norovirus last year in the country.

“There was sewage – raw sewage – being pumped into the sea.

“And the oysters are filters, so if the water has a virus, they will pick it up.”

Richard Haward, who farms oysters in the River Blackwater, also criticised Mr Blumenthal’s claims.

He said: “I think his comments are very misleading and inaccurate.

“The incident he is referring to was oysters in the Colne.

“We have our oysters in the River Blackwater where any effluent is treated with ultra-violet light before it is discharged.

“It is of concern that his comments could put people off, firstly oysters, and secondly oysters from Colchester, because he didn’t specify.

“Here at West Mersea we have done a lot of work to ensure the oysters are of a very high standard.

“In excess of two or three million oysters are sold every year and with very, very few problems.”