Dairy farm faces charges

A DAIRY and a farm linked to an outbreak of food poisoning which has killed a two-year-old girl and left six people seriously ill both face legal action, writes John Arlidge.

Some of the 60 people affected, including the parents of Claire Davidson, plan to sue Robert and Margaret Haston, the owners of Redhouse Dairy at Blackburn, Lothian, which has been identified as the source of the Escherichia coli bacteria that killed Claire.

The Milk Marketing Board yesterday halted collections from nearby Redhouse Farm, which supplies the dairy, after investigators found rotting carcasses lying near milking sheds. Its owner is likely to be charged under health and safety legislation.