Fast food business fined for second time in a month

A Leeds city centre fast food outlet has been prosecuted for the second time in a month for food hygiene offences.

Following a prosecution earlier this month which saw the former owner of Dixy Chicken on New Briggate, Aqueel Ahmed, handed a hefty fine for repeatedly dumping rubbish, the manager, Nosherwan Sarfraz, pleaded guilty to food hygiene offences at Leeds Magistrates Court last Friday.

Sarfraz was fined £480 and ordered to pay £1867 costs and a £48 victim surcharge for offences including having no means for staff preparing food to clean their hands.

During a visit by a Leeds City Council environmental health officer who was looking into a complaint from a member of the public alleging food poisoning, several issues were discovered.

There were no measures in place to prevent risk of contamination likely to render the food unfit for human consumption, and items that touch food were not kept clean and disinfected to avoid the risk of contamination.

The hand wash basins in the main kitchen and the downstairs preparation room had no materials for cleaning hands and both hand wash basins were dirty, the health officer reported.

In mitigation the court heard that as the manager Sarfraz accepted responsibility for the offences and explained that he was away from the premises a lot due to his wife being pregnant.

According to Sarfraz, the staff he employed held the appropriate food hygiene certificates and had advised him there were no issues at the premises while he was away.

Cllr Lucinda Yeadon, executive member for environment and sustainability, said: “It is very disappointing that we have had to bring the same business to court twice in one month for two different offences. Hopefully this will remind the manager and the new owner of the importance of keeping a clean and tidy business both inside and out, so they don’t fall foul of the legislation again.

“Officers will happily give advice so businesses can put the safety of customers first, but we won’t hesitate to take action when necessary.”