Food Safety

An Indian restaurant with poor food hygiene standards has been prosecuted by Charnwood Borough Council, Leicestershire.

When Environmental Health Officers (EHO) carried out a routine food safety inspection of the restaurant in Barrow upon Soar in June last year they found unacceptable standards of food hygiene and safety in the food preparation areas.

There was an extensive accumulation of dirt and food debris in the premises, which posed a risk of contamination and pest infestation. Food was stored in an outside yard, dirty wiping cloths were in use and decomposing food was found in the store room. No critical food controls were in place at the time of the visit.

The EHOs served legal notices and ensured the premises were closed until urgent matters were dealt with.

At Loughborough magistrates court, the restaurant owner admitted five food safety offences under Regulation (EC)852/2004 for failing to keep the structure and equipment clean, failing to protect food from contamination, failing to ensure that the structure of a food room afforded protection against pests and failing to ensure staff were adequately trained.

He was fined £1,000 with £750 costs.

The cabinet support member for environmental health and housing commented after the hearing:

'The council is committed to ensuring that public safety is a priority. We will always try to help and assist businesses comply with the law, but where there are significant breaches we shall take the appropriate steps.’