HYGIENE
Kirkby sandwich shop’s 24 breaches of food hygiene standards A Kirkby sandwich shop owner has been sent to Nottingham Crown Court to be sentenced for 24 breaches of food hygiene standards. David Hawkins ignored warnings from Ashfield District Council inspectors after they visited the Bakery, on Portland Street, in December 2015, and again in July 2016. Magistrates in Mansfield told him any one of the charges could have caused harm to members of the public. According to the Retford Guardian, Inspectors reported filthy conditions, including greasy fans, mouldy fridge seals and dirty shelves, while the pie press and microwave oven, storage cupboards and chopping boards were unclean. There were holes in the ceilings and gaps in the walls which could have let in rats, mice and other vermin. Missing
insulation strips meant the temperature for sandwich fillings could not be controlled, and uncovered pies were left to cool in rooms where they could have been contaminated. The inspectors found that Hawkins failed to separate raw ingredients which could have contained harmful allergens, and saw that inadequately trained staff were drinking while preparing food, and not washing their hands when making sandwiches. Hawkins, 26, of Windsor Road, Mansfield, admitted 24 charges of failing to comply with food safety and hygiene rules. Sarah Neale, mitigating, said Hawkins had “started on the back foot” after asbestos was found in the roof, causing delays, as well as problems with “boggy” land outside, and blocked pipes which prevented him from putting in
washbasins. Hawkins’ business partner dropped out, leaving him to cope with the paperwork, she said, but he struggled because of dyslexia and couldn’t afford to hire a replacement. “He has unfortunately bitten off more than he can chew,” said Miss Neale. “He is a proud young man who wanted to provide for his family “He has put blood, sweat and tears into this business for five years. “He feels that he has let down his family. He feels extremely embarassed. He wanted to take over from where his parents left off.” She said he neglected to train staff properly and left it to their “common sense”, but they were “unsupportive” and “blatantly disregarded” procedures he put in place. Hawkins, a dad-of-two, was due to be evicted from the premises, the court heard.
£2,500 FINE FOR ISLINGTON CAFÉ’S MISLEADING HYGIENE RATING ISLINGTON Council is urging food businesses to check they are displaying the correct food hygiene ratings after prosecuting a north London café for its failure to do so. Veli’s Café, opposite Arsenal’s Emirates stadium, was fined thousands of pounds after it falsely claimed to have a top food hygiene rating when its actual rating was much lower. According to the Evening Standard, Council inspectors found the café had put up two misleading stickers which said the Highbury café was rated five – the highest possible ranking – while their actual rating was one, meaning “much improvement necessary”. The café, in a row of shops on
Drayton Park opposite the football stadium entrance, was taken to court and has been landed with a bill of nearly £2,500. It had previously been rated five but was downgraded four levels in July 2015. The café’s current hygiene rating is three following an inspection in October last year. Kinal Ltd, the company trading as the café, was fined £1,500 for two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations. It must also pay costs of £896 and a £75 victim surcharge, Highbury Magistrates Court heard. Cllr Andy Hull, Islington Council’s
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executive member for finance, community safety and performance, said: “It’s important residents and visitors know where they can expect good food hygiene, and have confidence in the food hygiene rating system. “We urge businesses to make sure they are displaying the correct food hygiene rating – we will take action where the rating displayed is higher than a business’s actual rating. “If businesses are not sure how food hygiene ratings work or what they need to do, they can look at the Food Standards Agency website for help and advice, or contact our Environmental Health commercial team.