Luton Council successfully prosecuted two local food businesses for serious breaches of the food hygiene regulations at Luton Magistrates court.
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Al Badar, 237 Dunstable Road
During a routine inspection of Al Badar, 237 Dunstable Road in Luton in December 2011, officers found many breaches of the hygiene regulations.
The building structure and equipment were filthy and covered with food debris and grease. Staff were preparing food without wearing protective over-clothing. None of the staff working in the kitchen had any food hygiene training. Although there were two basins for washing hands, there was no soap at one basin and the other was obstructed so it could not be used.
Ready to eat food such as sweets and prepared salad was open to contamination from raw meat, dirt and rusty equipment. Food was also kept for long periods before being sold.
There were no procedures in place to ensure food was safe. This meant staff were washing raw meat in the kitchen sink, so splashing dangerous food poisoning bacteria onto plates and equipment used for sweets and salads.
Officers also found the electrical installation at the premises had not been maintained and there were broken sockets with exposed live connectors in the kitchen and storage area.
When re-visiting the premises on 6 August 2012, officers found raw meat still being washed in a way that could contaminate other food and equipment with dangerous food poisoning bacteria.
Mr Shabir Ahmed, operator of Al Badar, pleaded guilty to 8 hygiene offences and a health and safety offence. Magistrates imposed total fines of £3015 plus a £15 victim surcharge and ordered to pay the Council’s full costs of £1243.
Halal Fried Chicken and Daawat, 130 Dunstable Road
During a routine inspection of Halal Fried Chicken and Daawat on 6 December 2011, officers found live cockroaches in the kitchen and severy area. The premises were filthy with grease and food debris on the floor under equipment. There were also dead cockroaches floating in grease on the top of a fryer. There was a lack of hand washing facilities and dangerous electrical equipment.
Owner of the take away, Mr Mohammed Zaheer, decided to close the premises and co-operated fully with officers before re-opening it on 12 December 2011. At the time of the offences, the business was a take away selling fried chicken, kebabs, curries, rice and pizza. Halal Fried Chicken and Daawat has subsequently stopped trading.
Mr Zaheer pleaded guilty to four food hygiene offences and a health and safety offence. He was fined £3350 in total, plus £15 victim surcharge and ordered to pay the Council’s costs of £1411.
When speaking about these cases, Cllr Mohammed Ashraf, portfolio holder for public health, said: “Keeping a kitchen clean, safe and pest free is vital for food safety. The Council takes the protection of public health very seriously and will not tolerate businesses that put local residents’ health at risk.”
