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Bradford company
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September 2013 - 4th Edition
Asian Express
‘Famos’ Gram Flour milling company slammed after discovery of moth and dust infestation
By Anush Ansari
anush@asianexpress.co.uk
Moth and caterpillar droppings were discovered on the floors of a Laisterdyke food plant during a visit from hygiene inspectors. The food milling company, Arcadia Food Industries, on Pawson Street in Bradford, prepares grains and pulses which are sold mostly through Asian grocery stores. Their most popular
household brand being the ‘Famos Gram Flour’. In July last year an environmental health officer found floors layered with waste flour, live moths and broken equipment stuck together with tape on a routine inspection. A second officer found that the premises had a considerable amount of moth infestation. Droppings were found in the cracks on the floor, in the walls and ceiling and on top of milling equipment. At Bradford and Keighley Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Richard Winter, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said: “The factory floor was thick with flour dust on both visits. “The milling plant had been ill-repaired with clear sticking tape and live moths were found on the premises. “On the second visit, a significant moth infestation was found.”
Amjid and Sajid Baig, who did not appear at court, pleaded guilty to eight hygiene offences. The court heard that the two brothers agreed to close down the premises until the pest and hygiene problems were dealt with. After the hearing, Councillor Andrew Thornton, Bradford Council’s executive member for environment, said: “We will do everything we can to ensure that food businesses in Bradford are operated with the highest standards of hygiene in place. “We are always willing to work in partnership with, and advise, food business owners how to achieve the required standards, but if they ignore that advice and continue to operate from dirty premises and use poor hygiene practises, we won’t hesitate to prosecute. “We are glad of the support of the courts to help us make sure that consumers face no risks from food produced or processed in Bradford.” Mitigating for Arcadia Food Industries, Richard Wright QC said that the mill had since undergone a deep clean, and had passed a Council inspection on 6th September this year.