Food premises fined more than £14,000 for safety failings

Food premises in York where safety failings were found have been fined £14,331.46 this week.

York Magistrates Court this week heard that a variety of food hygiene failures, including storing flour and rice in uncovered containers, had been discovered by City of York Council’s food hygiene officers.

In some instances when the council issued advice and notices to improve, but required measures weren’t put in place to protect public health, legal action was taken.

The premises fined were Hong Kong Chop House on Swinegate and Saffron Tandoori Spice in Acomb Wood Shopping Centre.

Issues found at Hong Kong Chop House were found during several food hygiene visits made between 15 September 2017 and 24 October 2017. They identified poor cleanliness and repair, some food contamination issues, risk of cross contamination, failures in food safety management and failure to comply with five hygiene improvement notices.

Containers without lids were being used to store food including raw chicken, flour and rice, and were at risk of contamination, said the council. The hand wash basin for food handlers in the kitchen was obstructed by a dustbin making it difficult to access or use. There was also poor hand washing, which risked cross contamination of foods.

The council also found that the sink used for washing equipment and utensils was not disinfected between uses, and there was no disinfection of work surfaces as there was no sanitiser available.

A consequence of this was that the takeaway was given a food hygiene rating scheme score of 1.

The case was against Infinity Hardheadedness and Di Wu, the director of the company. The food business operator’s history of compliance with food safety legislation was poor, the council said. The business received a food hygiene rating scheme score of 2 in April 2014, a food hygiene rating scheme score of 1 in December 2015, and having previously been served with a hygiene improvement notice on 6 January 2016 for defective kitchen floor which prevented proper cleaning.

In mitigation, the court heard that the standards of cleaning slipped due to the busy kitchen /restaurant, and that Wu failed to notice standards slipping over time. He failed to keep in contact with his accountants where the Ltd Co is registered so didn’t receive the mail from the council as he should have done.

York Magistrates ordered the company to pay a fine of £7,500 and costs of £1,725.46. Mr Wu was fined £1,280, costs of £1,000 and a court surcharge of £100 (a total of £11,605.46).

Safety concerns at Saffron Tandoori Spice related to a food hygiene visit on 20 November 2017 and a further visit on 5 January 2018.

York Council said that the premises and equipment were poor, and a previous visit to the premises had also been poor. There was a dirty light switch and pull chord, the hand wash basin for food handlers was dirty, the hand wash basin plug and chain were both encased with grease and food deposits.

The food storage containers had old deposits attached due to inadequate washing, and there was a significant build up dirt around the kitchen doorframe.

This case was against Thuhel Ahmed of Leeds, the business owner. Ahmed pleaded guilty to two offences. The court heard that he had always tried his best to comply but the offences arose. He was fined £660 and ordered to pay a court surcharge of £66 and costs of £2,000 (a total of £2,726).

A spokesperson for City of York Council, said: “York offers many very good food premises and we want customers from the city and beyond to be confident in the quality of all the restaurants and takeaways they visit. Thanks to our food hygiene team’s vigilance, these issues have been identified and customers protected.

“We give advice which, if not complied with, can lead to legal action.”