My Kitchen Rules contestant bows out after food poisoning scare

My Kitchen Rules contestant Celine Kaponias has been forced to quit the cooking show competition after a severe bout of food poisoning put her in hospital for 15 days.

Producers said the Adelaide woman, who appeared on the show with her mother Vicky Xenos, did not get ill during filming of the Network Seven series but was admitted to hospital after eating out during a production break, Herald Sun reports.

Judge Pete Evans broke the "sad and shocking" news on the show as teams gathered to receive their scores from a pub grub challenge in Sydney's inner west.

"At this stage I am afraid that we have to say goodbye," Xenos said. "Celine's in hospital and she's not very well so her health is a little bit more important."

Kaponias said in a statement: "I am so sad our opportunity was cut short due to my illness, but I want to thank everyone for their amazing support … I'm back on my feet now and won't give up the dream of being on TV/radio entertaining everybody and I'm already back in the kitchen with mum!"