A patisserie owner whose shop was found to be filthy by Environmental Health Officers pleaded guilty to five charges under the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006 and was fined £2,100 at West London Magistrates’ Court 0n Wednesday 17 August and ordered to pay costs of £2,701 and a £15 victim surcharge.
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The court heard that when Environmental Health Officers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea visited Reza Patisserie at 345 Kensington High Street, London W8 on 7 June 2010 they found the premises to be filthy, evidence of a mice and cockroach infestation, yoghurt, poultry and sausages stored at unsafe temperatures, and dirty equipment.
The court was also informed that on 20 April 2010 the owner, Mr Gholam Reza Shedy was convicted of one food safety and three food hygiene offences that occurred on 9 December 2008. These offences related to a lack of traceability for caviar, a failure to keep the premises clean, in good repair and a lack of a food safety management system.
Mr Shedy told the court that he had been trading for 30 years and that in recent years his business had been suffering with the introduction of the congestion charge. It was also explained that he has now taken matters very seriously and this month had completed a food hygiene course. A certificate to confirm this was presented to District Judge Williams.
In sentencing, Judge Williams said she had to increase the penalty from the previous conviction as this obviously was not effective. She also commented that the food produced at this premises looked appetizing so she was horrified to see the conditions it was produced in, and she could not believe that dairy products were being kept at 21 °C, given that this is a temperature that is regarded as being comfortable to work in an office environment, the fridges were clearly of little use.
Councillor Fiona Buxton, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health, said: “Clearly the hygiene standards at Reza Patisserie fell way short of what is expected. The public have a right to expect the food they buy to have been stored and prepared in clean conditions. I feel that the fine set is entirely justifiable under these circumstances.”
