THREE Middlesbrough takeaway owners have been fined for breaching food hygiene regulations. Inspections carried out by Environmental Health Officers from Middlesbrough Council’s Community Protection Service have resulted in two separate prosecutions.
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Officers visiting Donatello’s in Albert Road in November 2012 and Pizza Pavilion, Park Vale Road in March 2013 found poor standards of cleanliness, risks to food safety and inadequate food safety management in both premises.
At Donatello’s, officers were particularly concerned to find evidence of a widespread mouse infestation with mouse droppings throughout the kitchen and in other parts of the premises.
Both food businesses were closed while steps were taken to rectify the hygiene breaches.
They were not allowed to re-open until the Council’s Environmental Health Officers were satisfied that the health risks had been removed.
At Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (July 23), Shazad Ahmed, who owned Pizza Pavilion but has since sold the business, pleaded guilty to four offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay £250 towards the Council’s costs.
The owner of Donatello’s Abdul Mohammed also pleaded guilty to four offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 and was fined £220 plus £500 in costs.
Donatello’s co-owner Abdi Ahmed had appeared before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on July 16 charged with the same offences. He had pleaded guilty and was fined £220 plus £325 in costs.
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.
“In the majority of food businesses we find good hygiene standards.
“Where we find poor standards of hygiene, these are usually caused by inadequate food safety management and poorly trained staff.
“It is the responsibility of the management and staff in any food business to ensure they understand and control risks to food safety, that premises are kept clean and that good food hygiene practices are followed.”
Councillor Charlie Rooney, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “There is simply no excuse for poor food hygiene standards, which can have serious consequences for consumer safety.
“The Council has always taken the approach to support local businesses and help them comply with their legal obligations, however, where consumer safety is put at risk then appropriate enforcement action must be taken.”
