UCSA staffer falsified records after more than 160 students got food poisoning

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Sam Wright, left, and James van der Voort both fell ill after eating dinner at University Hall, at the University of Canterbury, in 2024. (File image)

A University of Canterbury Students’ Association (UCSA) staff member gave falsified chicken temperature records to investigators following a mass food-poisoning event.

The dishonest activity was recorded in an agreed summary of facts obtained by The Press, for which UCSA will be sentenced in December.

The organisation recently pleaded guilty to failing to ensure its food was safe and suitable, which carries a maximum fine of $200,000.

The souvlaki chicken in question was cooked and frozen three days before UCSA staff reheated, prepared and served it to students on November 3, 2024, the summary said.

A total of 164 students from University Hall and Ilam Student Accommodation fell ill with gastroenteritis symptoms, including diarrhoea, stomach pain, low grade fever and vomiting.

The mass food poisoning saw students running out of end-of-year exams needing to use the bathroom and suffering constant stomach pain.

A UCSA staff member provided falsified chicken temperature records to investigators after the food poisoning incident. (File image)

University Hall student Sam Wright said after taking sick: “It’s real terrible, you kind of expect some decent food.”

The court summary said some students supplied “faecal samples for laboratory testing” that tested positive for Clostridium perfringens bacteria, a common cause of food poisoning.

Te Whatu Ora led a survey that found 95.7% of the 164 afflicted students had consumed the chicken served on November 3.

“Following epidemiological, laboratory, and environmental investigations, the cause of the outbreak was determined to be the souvlaki chicken,” the summary said.

“At some point between the first cooking and blast cooling of the chicken to the rolling boil reheat, the chicken has become contaminated with Clostridium perfringens bacteria.”

The mass outbreak struck during end-of-year exams in 2024. (File image)

The summary said the chicken was “unsafe and unsuitable for human consumption”.

New Zealand Food Safety found that when the chicken was prepared, food temperatures were not recorded by UCSA in accordance with its food control plan.

However, a UCSA staff member provided “handwritten temperature records” for the relevant periods to a Food Safety officer during the investigation.

UCSA declined to comment while the case remained before the courts. (File image)

“It was identified the paper records were falsified temperature records, as none of the temperatures were taken over the weekend, but had been written after the fact,” the summary said.

“There was also no evidence of any internal audits being conducted by UCSA in the previous 12 months.”

These matters were also contrary to UCSA’s food plan, issued by the Christchurch City Council to identify, control, manage, and eliminate hazards.

Established in 1894, UCSA employs up to 280 full-time, part-time and casual staff who report through a chief executive.

It is responsible for food at more than 10 sites in Canterbury, which cater to many consumers.

UCSA staff provided statements to Food Safety, but not on behalf of the organisation, the summary said.

The Press asked UCSA for comment about the falsified temperature records and other failings, whether anyone had been disciplined, and what changes had been made since.

UCSA president Tumaru Mataio said the organisation would not comment while the case was before the courts.