Eight guests at a rabbi's son's coming of age ceremony at an Edgware Synagogue have contracted salmonella.

The outbreak followed a function at the the Edgware Masorti Synagogue, Stream Lane, in celebration of the barmitzvah of minister Rabbi Chaim Weiner's eldest son, Joshua.

Barnet Health Authority, which is investigating the source of the food poisoning, confirmed that eight people have contracted salmonella, one of whom needed hospital treatment.

Three other guests with suspected salmonella also needed hospital treatment although everyone has now been released.

More than 350 guests attended the function and they have all been sent questionnaires to try to pin-point the source of the food poisoning.

Maggie Levan Honorary Secretary of the Edgware Masorti Synagogue said: "The authority is trying to find out what was the cause. We are desperate for it to find the source."

The food served at the event, which did not contain any meat, came from a number of places, and some of it was home-made.

A health authority press officer said: "The outbreak control team will thoroughly investigate the incident and has developed a questionnaire for all the guests to help it to trace the source of the food poisoning."

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