Travel firm sued by couple who ate ‘poisoned’ fish
A Dorset-based travel company is being sued by a luxury handbag designer after she allegedly got food poisoning while on honeymoon at a hotel in Zanzibar.
Melissa Ker, who owns fashion label Meli Melo, a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge and celebrities such as Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, claims she was ill for two years after eating a red snapper at the five-star Mnemba Island Lodge.
Ms Ker and her husband Douglas, who also claimed he suffered food poisoning but quickly recovered, are suing Ultimate Honeymoons, claiming that owners David Benton Jones and his wife Lucy are liable for hotel staff failing to test for toxins and supplying fish "not of satisfactory quality".
The firm denies liability.
In a writ filed to the High Court, the couple’s lawyer stated: "On June 12, 2009, both Mr and Mrs Ker dined at Mnemba Island Lodge for lunch. The chef cooked them fish which had been frozen.
‘Within 60 minutes of the meal Mrs Ker fell ill, and within two to three hours of the meal Mr Ker fell ill."
Under the EU Package Travel Directive a UK tour operator is responsible for ensuring the quality of its suppliers, but Ultimate Honeymoons claims it did not sell the holiday to the Kers.
Jones told the Daily Mail he was friends of friends of the couple so he arranged a discount off their booking at the hotel.
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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