A trip abroad turned sour for a 34-year-old passenger from Erdington after he fell severely ill following a meal at Birmingham Airport. The man stated that he was served undercooked chicken in the No1 Lounges ‘Clubrooms’ departure lounge, describing the meat as “translucent” and resembling salmon, both in appearance and temperature.
The traveler, who wished to remain anonymous, began eating the chicken but quickly suspected it was not properly cooked. Upon raising his concern, he was initially told the food was “edible.” However, shortly after, staff removed the dish. The passenger and his partner, aged 32, were relocated to another lounge and given a complimentary bottle of champagne on January 15.
A manager later claimed the chicken had been temperature-checked at 92°C but admitted he had not personally inspected the dish. Approximately 8 to 12 hours after eating, the man developed symptoms consistent with food poisoning that lasted for a week. The illness affected what should have been a joyous holiday trip to Romania.
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The No1 Lounge, which holds a top Food Hygiene rating of 5 out of 5, issued an apology and emphasized that it takes food safety concerns seriously. They stressed their commitment to high standards and noted no confirmed food-related illnesses at this lounge in the past year.
The passenger told BirminghamLive that the experience was dreadful and marred his enjoyment of food and travel thereafter. “It has made me super cautious about eating out; I’m anxious about undercooked food now,” he said.
He has filed a formal complaint with Solihull Council’s Environmental Health team. In response, No1 Lounges reiterated their rigorous food safety audits, conducted every six months by external consultants. Following the incident, an independent investigation was launched alongside a refund and further compensation provided on the day.
Solihull Council confirmed it was investigating the complaint and will carry out an inspection if deemed necessary.