Fuerteventura hotel breaks silence as Brit dies after eating 'half-cooked' chicken
A plush four-star Fuerteventura hotel has spoken out following the death of a British tourist who ate "half-cooked" chicken there.
Occidental Jandia Playa today insists it has "a strict food hygiene and safety protocol" and it complies with regulations. It has hit back with a bullish statement after an inquest had heard Leslie Green, a dad from Bolton, Greater Manchester, contracted the bacterial infection salmonella at the all-inclusive hotel.
The hearing last week was told the 70-year-old man ate undercooked chicken at Occidental Jandia Playa on Fuerteventura, one of Spain's Canary Islands. However, the Barceló Hotel Group, which runs the Occidental Jandia Playa, said yesterday no salmonella has been detected at the hotel in the last twelve months.
The spokesperson said: "We also hold certificates from the aforementioned external audit company confirming that no salmonella has been detected at the hotel in the last twelve months. These audits and controls reflect our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of guests."
But Mr Green and his 60-year-old wife Julie had only eaten at the Occidental Jandia Playa during their holiday on Fuerteventura last October. Rochdale Coroner's Court heard Mr Green, a retired delivery driver, experienced symptoms including diarrhoea days into the trip and his condition deteriorated. The coroner concluded Mr Green had died from food poisoning contracted whilst on holiday after eating partially cooked chicken.
The Barcelo Hotel Group, founded in Spain in 1981, said it "deeply regrets the death". Its statement in full reads: "The Barceló Hotel Group deeply regrets the death of a guest at our Fuerteventura hotel in November 2024.
"On behalf of the entire group, we would like to extend our deepest condolences to the guest's family and loved ones and reiterate our firm commitment to the safety and well-being of our customers.
"The Barceló Hotel Group has a strict food hygiene and safety protocol that includes rigorous internal controls and periodic external audits performed by an independent company renowned in food safety.
"This control system guarantees compliance with applicable regulations and our company's stringent quality standards. We also hold certificates from the aforementioned external audit company confirming that no salmonella has been detected at the hotel in the last twelve months. These audits and controls reflect our ongoing commitment to the health and safety of guests."
Mr and Mrs Green were on a Jet2 holiday when tragedy struck. Jet2 said it would be "inappropriate" to comment due to an ongoing legal claim, but offered its "thoughts and condolences" to the Green family.
Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Green, a retired nurse, said: "I still struggle to comprehend how we went on holiday, but Leslie didn't come home... He was my best friend and life without him will never be the same."
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