The boss of a Halesowen Chinese takeaway has landed a court bill of over £15,000 for poor standards of hygiene.
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Mr Xiao Ming Wu of the China Chef in Grammar School Lane, Halesowen, pleaded guilty to 12 offences under the food hygiene regulations at Dudley Magistrates on May 2.
Environmental health officers visited the property three times between April and November 2012 and found evidence of the firm’s failure to identify and address food safety hazards and monitor food temperatures, a failure to protect food from potential contamination and a failure to keep premises and equipment clean.
The court heard that Wu had been given additional coaching by environmental health officers to help him comply with the law after he had received a zero rating for hygiene but that the improvements made were not sustained at further visits. He was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,000 costs.
Councillor Tracy Wood, cabinet member for environment and culture, said:
“This prosecution sends out a clear message that we’re tough on food hygiene. Prosecution is always a last resort and we work very closely with businesses to ensure they know the law and offer help and advice where we can.
“However, in certain cases, prosecution is the only option in our bid to ensure people are protected when buying food in the Dudley borough.”
“Nearly half of all food outlets in the borough are achieving the top hygiene rating of 5 and the vast majority achieve a satisfactory rating of 3 or more. I would urge consumers to check out hygiene ratings online as these will give consumers a glimpse of what is going on in the kitchen when they eat out, or behind the scenes at the places they shop”
Dudley Council environmental health officers carry out regular inspections of all food premises in the borough to advise food business proprietors and ensure they meet all food safety and hygiene requirements. The hygiene standards found at the time of inspection are then rated on a scale from zero which means urgent improvement is required to five, which means the hygiene standards are very good.
