Birmingham Airport Passenger Falls Severely Ill After Alleged Undercooked Chicken Meal
A passenger at Birmingham Airport has reported a week-long illness that he claims ruined his overseas trip, allegedly caused by being served undercooked chicken at a departure lounge. The 34-year-old man from Erdington said he was dished up a meal with "translucent meat which resembled salmon in appearance and was not hot" at the No1 Lounges 'Clubrooms' facility at BHX.
Disturbing Discovery and Immediate Response
The traveller, who requested anonymity, stated he began eating the chicken dish but quickly realised something was wrong. He complained to staff and was initially told the meal was "edible," but claimed the food was immediately removed after they saw it. He and his 32-year-old partner were subsequently moved to a different airport lounge and given a complimentary bottle of champagne on January 15 as a gesture of goodwill.
The passenger recounted: "It was a really horrible experience. What was supposed to be a joyous trip and my Christmas present turned into a bit of a disaster. Literally every time I think about it I get shivers through my spine."
Week-Long Illness and Ruined Romanian Holiday
Approximately eight to twelve hours after consuming the meal, the flyer said he developed symptoms consistent with food poisoning that persisted for an entire week. This illness severely impacted what should have been a "joyous" trip to Romania, preventing him from enjoying local cuisine and drinks as planned.
"We made the best of the trip that we could, given that illness struck and couldn't really enjoy the local cuisine and drinks we planned to because of the fear of upsetting our stomachs even more," he explained. The experience has left him "super cautious" when dining out, causing anxiety about undercooked food.
Conflicting Information and Official Complaints
The passenger reported that a manager later stated the chicken had been temperature probed at 92°C, but also confirmed they had not personally inspected the dish. He has since filed a formal complaint with Solihull Council's Environmental Health team, which was notified about the matter on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.
A Solihull Council spokeswoman confirmed: "We will investigate this as per our normal procedures, and where appropriate a visit will be made to the premises."
Lounge Response and Food Safety Assurance
No1 Lounges, which operates the Clubrooms facility, has apologised for the incident while maintaining their commitment to food safety standards. The lounge holds the highest Food Hygiene Rating of five out of five, achieved after an inspection by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council in September 2025.
A No1 Lounges spokeswoman stated: "Guest care is our first priority, and we take concerns about food safety standards and accountability in our airport lounges very seriously. We are sorry that on this occasion the guest experience of our lounge was not as expected."
The company emphasised that there have been no confirmed cases of food-related illness at Clubrooms Birmingham in the past twelve months. They operate a comprehensive food safety management system that meets legal requirements and best practice guidance. Following the passenger's complaint, they conducted an independent investigation by an Environmental Health Consultant with Safer Food Scores and issued a full refund for the lounge booking.
