Woman dies after eating at restaurant in Spain

A judge in eastern Spanish city of Valencia has opened an investigation after a 46-year-old woman died of food poisoning after eating a meal at a Michelin starred restaurant in the city.

The woman, who has not been identified, died last Sunday after eating at the restaurant Riff with a further 30 people, including her husband and 12 year-old son, all becoming ill after eating there, according to a statement released by regional health authorities.

Everyone who suffered from food poisoning had eaten at the restaurant between Feb.13-16.

Food inspectors visited the restaurant on Feb. 18, but said they have so far been unable to discover what had caused the outbreak, despite reports that a species of fungus known as Morels could have been the source of the poisoning.

However, they have taken samples from the restaurant's "tasting menu" for analysis at the National Toxicology Institute and will also await the results of a post-mortem on the victim.

The head chef and owner of Riff, Bernd H Knoller, has offered his condolences to the victim's family and issued a statement confirming he had "taken the decision to close the restaurant until we know the precise causes and can reopen with the necessary guarantees for the safety of both staff and customers."