A Watford café owner has been successfully prosecuted by Watford Borough Council for seven offences of failing to manage food safety in his business and therefore putting the health of customers at risk.
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On 13 Feburary 2012, Mr Mushtaq Akbari of Café Toast, 38A High Street appeared at Watford Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to all seven charges.
Mr Akbari was fined £2,500 for each offence, was ordered to pay the prosecution costs of £7,567.60 and a victim surcharge of £15. Mr Akbari has to pay a total of £25,082.60.
Councillor Derek Scudder, Cabinet member responsible for Environmental Services said, “The Magistrates agreed that these were very serious breaches of Food Hygiene Regulations. We want food businesses in Watford to be successful but we also want food to be safe. Officers will continue to work closely with Mr Akbari and any other similar businesses to support them but if businesses do not co-operate and implement our advice we will take appropriate enforcement action. I am very pleased to say that Mr Akabri’s business is now much improved and nearly all the issues identified have been addressed.”
Environmental Health Officers routinely inspect all of the food premises in the borough and respond to complaints from customers. In this case a complaint was received in late 2010 that alerted officers to poor food hygiene practices. Over the coming months officers worked with the business owner and staff to try and improve standards but unfortunately they continued to find poor practices. Key to this was service of a formal improvement notice that required the manager’s level of knowledge in food hygiene to be improved, this was not complied with and despite all efforts officers remained concerned about the risk to public safety.
During visits throughout 2011 various issues and offences were found. These included a lack of hot water, a lack of documented food safety management systems, lack of a designated hand washing basin, lack of temperature controls and exposure of food to contamination. Samples of food were taken to try and highlight the potential risks to Mr Akbari. Analysis revealed high levels of food poisoning bacteria including Listeria monocytogenes and E.coli. Whilst the particular type of E.Coli that has caused fatalities over recent years in other well publicised national cases was not identified, the bacteria found still has the potential to cause ill health.
Finally in April 2011, an infestation of German cockroaches was discovered, giving rise to an imminent risk to public health. Mr Akbari voluntarily closed the business and a pest control company treated the premises whilst it remained closed. When officers were satisfied the imminent risk was removed the business was allowed to reopen under continuing close scrutiny – but a failure to maintain adequate standards led to the case being brought.
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