On Tuesday 9 July 2013 Mr Fazir Khan and Mr Noor Ali, joint food business operators of The Bengal Restaurant, 72 High Street, Ramsey pleaded guilty to seven food hygiene offences at Huntingdon Magistrates Court, in a case brought by Huntingdonshire District Council.
 |
| [relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”] |
|
|
The breaches were witnessed on 19 April 2013 during a visit by Environmental Health Protection Officer, Belinda Betham, when investigating a complaint that the restaurant was trading whilst drains to the rear of the restaurant were blocked and discharging. Mrs Betham witnessed staff and delivery drivers walking through raw sewage to gain access to the kitchen. In addition to the drainage issues, Mrs Betham found poor standards of cleaning and disinfection, cross-contamination risks, no documented food safety management system, unsupervised food handlers with no food hygiene training and high risk food products being stored at ambient temperature. The kitchen was also found to be of insufficient size for the food operation, with a commercial refrigerator being located in the rear yard, and food products and containers coming into contact with contaminated floor surfaces.
Following the inspection, Mr Khan and Mr Ali agreed to voluntarily close the premises in order that urgent cleaning and disinfection could to take place. The premises was issued with a food hygiene rating of zero (Urgent Improvement Necessary).
In mitigation, Mr J Chrisp, representing the defendants, stated that building works are due to be carried out to improve and extend the premises in August.
The defendants were fined £1750 each for the offences and ordered to pay the council’s full costs of £1200 and a £25 victim surcharge. Magistrates stated that they had taken account of the defendants’ early guilty plea and stressed the importance of carrying out the planned improvements to the premises.
Councillor Robin Howe, Executive Councillor for Healthy and Active Communities, said: “We always try to work alongside food businesses and offer advice and support to ensure high standards are maintained in food safety; prosecutions are rare. In this case there were clearly some very serious issues, and public health and safety must come first.”
There are over 1000 food businesses in Huntingdonshire which are inspected and rated under the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, with just six premises with a zero rating. Ratings can be searched for online using the link on the right, or look out for the distinctive black and green rating sticker and certificate displayed in food premises.
