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A Smethwick food cash and carry firm where dead mice were found rotting in mousetraps has landed a court bill of over £26,000.
Sandwell Council environmental health officers, who brought the case to court, made the grim discovery at Golden Foods Cash & Carry.
The company, which trades from Halberton Street, pleaded guilty to three food hygiene charges at Warley magistrates court on Monday (11 July).
The court ordered the firm to pay a total of £26,735 in fines and council costs.
Golden Foods, owned and operated by Flying Trade Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing to maintain their premises in a clean condition; failing to control pests; and failing to ensure staff were adequately trained in food safety.
The court heard that council environmental health officers visited the business on 7 July 2009 following a complaint about mice in the building.
They found four dead mice rotting in mousetraps and mouse droppings on shelves and in food areas. They also saw pigeons flying inside the building.
The company director agreed to close the premises so they could carry out cleaning and other work to protect the building from pests.
The court heard evidence of how the firm, before being closed, had failed to act on advice given by their pest control company. This had resulted in the premises being infested by mice and pigeons over several months.
In its defence, Flying Trade Ltd said the company had undertaken some proofing works and had a ‘gold’ pest control contract in place with a premium level of inspection.
Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for neighbourhood services, said: “As the judge said at court, a big business such as this should have known better.
“I welcome this result, which environmental health officers brought to protect the health of this company’s customers and the wider public.
“I hope this will serve as a warning to everyone that we take hygiene very seriously in Sandwell and will prosecute those who fail in their duties.”
The court ordered the company to pay £3,250 for each of the three hygiene offences and the council’s costs of £16,985. The firm has 28 days to pay.
