Raw egg mayonnaise caused a salmonella outbreak after a high tea at a luxury Melbourne hotel.
The mayonnaise in chicken sandwiches caused salmonella poisoning in at least 40 people who ate at The Langham hotel on July 11 and 12, Victoria's acting chief health officer Michael Ackland says.
Sixteen people were hospitalised, including a pregnant woman who was forced to deliver her baby five weeks early.
"Through our investigations we found that the mayonnaise contained the same strain of salmonella found in the confirmed cases," Professor Ackland said.
All up, 90 people reported falling ill, but it was only possible to confirm the strain in 40 cases.
The Langham Melbourne managing director Ben Sington says the hotel's eggs are sourced from certified suppliers and stored in accordance with guidelines.
"Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure while investigations were underway, the hotel took immediate steps ... to only use pasteurised eggs in all cooking processes except for hard boiled and made to order eggs at breakfast, and the hotel ceased making its own mayonnaise," he said.
Amber Elbouch, who spent eight days in hospital and is still taking medication, said she had not heard from the hotel since falling ill.
"I think they do have a duty of care and a responsibility to at least contact us and see if we're alright and see if there's anything they can do," she told 3AW on Tuesday.
"It would be nice to receive a phone call."
