Sickies mean run on firms

WORKERS taking sick days because of food poisoning costs the Lothians economy 300,000 days a year, it has emerged.

Health Protection Scotland said infectious intestinal diseases, causing diarrhoea and vomiting, affected 250,000 people a year in the area.

When this translated to those unable to attend work, researchers said, it meant businesses being hit to a huge extent. The study showed 50 per cent of those affected called in sick.