John Tudor and Son of Bridgend, the meat supplier at the centre of investigations into an E. coli outbreak in South Wales, has re-opened, according to the BBC.
The company was closed in September after Bridgend Council issued an emergency prohibition order, the broadcaster said.
The order was lifted last month, and the firm has been allowed to trade after a fresh inspection. But it has lost contracts to supply schools and old people’s homes in four local authorities in south Wales, it has emerged.
Investigations are continuing into the source of the E.coli outbreak, which affected more than 170 people and killed one boy.
Most of those hit by the E.coli 0157 food poisoning were children in more than 40 south Wales valleys schools. One, Mason Jones, five, from Deri near Bargoed, died.
Public health officials found the initial source of the poisoning to be school meals, although cases were later spread by person-to-person contact.
The Bridgend firm was closed soon after the outbreak began in September, and the council said it issued certificates last Friday allowing it to reopen. In a statement, the local authority said it was “satisfied that there is no longer a risk to health in relation to emergency prohibition notices served on the firm on 19 and 20 September 2005”.
The council will carry out more inspections “to ensure continual compliance with relevant legislation in accordance with the council’s duty under the Food Safety Act 1990”.
An official inquiry by the Welsh Assembly Government and chaired by food expert Professor Hugh Pennington is under way.
A spokeswoman for William Tudor, of John Tudor and Son, said: “He’s now trying to rebuild his business. It’s been a particularly difficult affair which for many people has been devastating and as of today we can begin to rebuild the business.”
