A memorable night took a turn for the worse.
Michael Ahern and his wife, along with many guests, found themselves unwell after food served at their wedding reception at a high-end Brooklyn hotel tested positive for norovirus, according to a recent lawsuit.
The couple spent $30,000 to celebrate at The Box House in Greenpoint, only to experience “repeated episodes of vomiting and diarrhea,” as reported. It seems the celebration was marred by this highly contagious virus, which is notorious for causing sudden gastrointestinal distress, due to food served at their reception.
The lawsuit states, “Instead of starting their married life with joy surrounded by loved ones, they spent the days after their wedding suffering from the debilitating effects of a norovirus outbreak linked to the food.”
Following their symptoms, Ahern and his wife tested positive for norovirus after providing stool samples to health authorities.
But the couple wasn’t alone in their plight. Out of the 112 guests, thirty others also reported similar symptoms, all connecting it to dishes they had eaten, including prosciutto, macaroni-and-cheese croquettes, or a dessert described as a “seasonal crumble.”
A representative from The Box House expressed regret over the situation, stating they were “sorry guests got sick after this wedding” and mentioned staff retraining on cleanliness practices. They acknowledged that the day was meant to be extraordinary and understood how disappointing the outcome was.
The spokesperson also indicated that norovirus was spreading in the city at that time, suggesting that some of the food served may have come from outside the venue.
Additionally, a report from the city’s Department of Health indicated that an employee at the Brooklyn Lantern, the hotel’s restaurant, had tested positive for norovirus, though notably, this employee had not been involved in preparing the meals that made the Aherns’ guests ill.
The report ultimately stated that “specific food vehicles as a mode of transmission remain undetermined for this outbreak.” Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Lantern claimed that there have been no reported cases of norovirus in the restaurant before or after the alleged incident.
