Laneway festival illness reports: Sheppards NZ says its food is not to blame

Attendees of a recent music festival are reporting illness, prompting questions about potential causes and raising concerns for future events. While initial reports focused on those who consumed food from a specific vendor, the scope of the issue appears broader, with some individuals reporting symptoms despite consuming only water provided at the festival.

Festival Illnesses: Beyond Foodborne Causes?

The festival, which took place on Thursday, has seen numerous attendees share experiences of illness on social media, including severe diarrhea and cramping. One attendee posted about being completely incapacitated the day after the event. Several others echoed similar experiences in response to her post.

Vendor Responds to Complaints

Sheppards NZ, a catering truck that regularly serves festivalgoers and was present at the event, has acknowledged receiving reports of illness. The company shared with the Herald that it has received emails from attendees who hadn’t eaten anything at the festival but experienced similar symptoms to those who had. “It will be interesting who else got sick without eating any of our food,” Sheppards NZ stated, adding that speculating on the cause of the illness “probably isn’t our place.”

Did You Know? Sheppards NZ was established by Hamish Pinkham, one of the founders of the Rhythm and Vines New Year’s festival.

The company has since deleted its social media posts related to the festival following the influx of complaints. Sheppards NZ emphasized that they have “served hundreds of customers around the country this summer without any issues,” and described the situation as “deeply distressing for a small business.”

Looking Ahead

Sheppards NZ intends to continue with its scheduled appearances at other events, including Worship at the Auckland Domain, which took place the day after the festival. The company expressed hope for the recovery of those affected. It remains possible that health officials could investigate the source of the illnesses, but this has not been reported. Further reports of illness could lead to increased scrutiny of food and water safety protocols at future events.

Expert Insight: When public events experience widespread reports of illness, even without a clear source identified, it can erode public trust and potentially impact attendance at future gatherings. The immediate response of the vendor, acknowledging concerns and expressing distress, is a common initial step, but a thorough investigation is often necessary to determine the root cause and prevent recurrence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What symptoms are attendees reporting?

Attendees are reporting symptoms including diarrhea and cramping. One attendee stated they were unable to “do anything” the day after the festival.

Has the cause of the illness been identified?

No, the cause of the illness has not been identified. Reports indicate some attendees became sick despite not consuming food from the vendor in question, and even after only drinking water at designated stations.

What is Sheppards NZ doing in response?

Sheppards NZ has acknowledged the reports of illness, deleted its social media posts about the festival, and stated it is continuing with its scheduled appearances at other events.

What steps do you think event organizers should take to ensure the health and safety of attendees at future festivals?