The owner of a Middlesbrough restaurant has been fined after breaching food hygiene rules. Environmental Health Officers from Middlesbrough Council’s Community Protection Service visited Jamal’s in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough on February 19 to carry out a routine food hygiene inspection.
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They found evidence of a widespread mouse infestation, poor standards of cleanliness and serious risks to food safety.
Food business owner Jamal Chowdhury voluntarily closed his restaurant and did not re-open until Environmental Health Officers had re-inspected the premises and were satisfied that the health risks had been removed.
Environmental Health Manager Judith Hedgley said: “Environmental Health Officers make regular visits to restaurants, takeaways and other food outlets in Middlesbrough to check hygiene and food safety practices.
“The conditions found in this restaurant not only highlighted a lack of food safety management but the signs of mouse activity – which included mouse droppings on and around food equipment – were clearly evident to anyone working there.
“It is the responsibility of the management and staff of any food business to ensure the food they serve is safe to eat and it is prepared under hygienic conditions.”
Chowdhury was charged with four offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. Appearing before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (July 9), he pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000. He was also ordered to pay £400 towards the Council’s costs plus a £100 victim surcharge.
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “The Council’s Environmental Health Officers will always take prompt action to protect consumer safety if they discover substandard conditions in any local food business.
“The Council’s first approach to securing food hygiene standards is to work with businesses – however, where there are serious breaches of the food hygiene rules then legal action will always be considered.”
