The owner of a Middlesbrough takeaway has been fined after breaching food hygiene rules (Photos on Flickr).

Prosecution
[relatedPosts title=”Related Posts”]

  • Council: Middlesbrough Council
  • Fine: £1,000
  • Costs: £575
  • Total: £1,575

During a routine food hygiene inspection of Sicilianos Pizzeria, Environmental Health Officers found evidence of a widespread mouse infestation together with poor standards of cleanliness.

Officers used emergency powers to close the Rothbury Road takeaway and the premises remained shut for 17 days following the inspection on December 10 last year.

Environmental Health Manager Judith Hedgley said: “The unhygienic conditions in this food business presented an imminent risk of injury to health that required the service of a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice to shut the premises to protect public health.

“The business was not given permission to re-open until we were satisfied that the mouse infestation had been eradicated and the premises sanitised.”

Business operator Kaid Altalekany was charged under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 with failing to ensure he had adequate procedures in place to control pests and failing to keep his premises and food equipment clean and disinfected.

Appearing before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (June 17),   Altalekany, 45, pleaded guilty to all charges. He was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £575 towards the Council’s costs, plus a £100 victim surcharge.

Councillor Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Public Health, said: “The evidence shown in this case highlighted clear and serious breaches of food laws.

“Such breaches have the potential to cause serious threat to public health and can have a detrimental impact on surrounding businesses and to local residents.

“The Council’s first approach to securing food hygiene standards is to work with local food businesses.

“However, where conditions are found that put consumer health at risk then appropriate enforcement action will always be taken.”