Beginning in Jan. 2011, 107 people in South Australia were sickened with Salmonella linked to custard-filled berliners.

Yesterday, the State Government told the Supreme Court it spoke truth when it blamed iconic baker Vili Milisits as the source.

Mr Milisits has asserted public health director Dr Kevin Buckett defamed him in two press conferences and one radio interview by blaming the berliners for food poisoning that affected more than 100 people.

John Whitington, acting for Mr Milisits, was quoted by the Herald Sun as saying, “The Government says the Department of Health conducted investigations, in late January, as a result of increased incidence of reported Salmonella. It says a statistically-significant proportion of people were interviewed.

“It says that, based on that analysis, a person infected with the salmonella bacteria was 38 times more likely to have eaten a custard-filled berliner.”

He asked Judge Brian Withers to order the Government to release that material to Mr Milisits’ legal team, along with the names of the people interviewed.

Judge Withers has reserved his decision.