A now-closed Italian restaurant and its former owner have been fined $40,000 after two children were accidentally served insect repellent instead of cranberry juice during a family dinner in Perth, Australia.
The incident occurred in June 2024 at Miky’s Italian Fusion restaurant in Crawley, when sisters Hannah Lemin, 12, and Olivia Lemin, 11, unknowingly drank a citronella torch and lamp oil solution that had been mistaken for juice.
Children noticed unusual taste
The girls were dining with their parents, Marcus and Michele Lemin, when they complained that their cranberry juice tasted unusual.
According to their mother, the children immediately reacted after taking a sip.
“My daughters went to gulp it down and both spat it out, saying it tasted like it was poisoned,” Michele Lemin said.
When she tasted the drink herself, she also spat it out after noticing the strong and unusual flavour.
Bottle mistaken for juice
Investigations later revealed that a bartender mistakenly used a bottle containing pink-coloured citronella liquid, which resembled cranberry juice.
The family rushed the children to Perth Children’s Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital after contacting the poisons information centre.
The girls complained of burning stomach pain, tingling in their hands, and headaches, but doctors later confirmed that neither child suffered permanent physical damage.
Court finds restaurant owner responsible
The case was heard in the Perth Magistrates Court, where Magistrate Donna Webb ruled that the former restaurant owner, Michele Angiuli, failed to maintain proper food safety standards.
The court heard that the restaurant lacked certified food safety supervisors, and staff had not completed required food safety training despite repeated reminders.
Angiuli’s lawyer argued that the incident was caused by the bartender’s negligence, noting the employee had only worked at the restaurant for two weeks.
However, the magistrate rejected that argument, stating that the owner had failed to exercise proper oversight and had even initially disposed of the bottles involved in the incident.
$40,000 fine imposed
The court fined $20,000 to the company and $20,000 personally to Angiuli, along with additional legal costs.
The magistrate also noted that the children had been served a recognised poison, describing the situation as potentially dangerous and emotionally traumatic for the family.
Following the verdict, the girls’ father said he hoped the case would remind hospitality businesses of their responsibility.
“I hope it drives more rigour in the industry and helps business owners understand the accountability they carry,” he said.
The restaurant has since closed, and Angiuli declined to comment after the court ruling.