Catering firm hit with fines after pleading guilty to 15 offences

A Doner Kebab manufacturer has been prosecuted by Kirklees Council, resulting in a total of over £6,000 in fines and costs.

Halal Catering Supplies Ltd, of Units 6 & 7a Beckside Trading Estate, 230 Bradford Road, Batley, pleaded guilty to 15 offences at Kirklees Magistrates Court

These included lack of traceability, failing to follow its own food safety management systems, failing to maintain the premises in a sound condition, failing to place correct identification markings on its products and failing to comply with hygiene improvement notices.

During a routine food hygiene inspection in January 2022, the council’s Environmental Health Team established that the lamb fat used in the manufacture of Halal Catering Supplies Ltd’s kebabs was not being sourced from a supplier with the required approval.

In addition, it was noted the structure of the premises was in poor condition and that food safety management systems were not being followed.

During the inspection, officers found flaking paint on ceilings and rusty equipment in the production area, unfit food not quarantined, a lack of monitoring records to show food was being maintained at safe temperatures, no useful means of knowing which companies they had supplied food to, food packaging materials covered with dust and debris and open spilt mouse bait in food storage rooms.

Officers concluded the company was not following its food hygiene procedures.

The premises were put under a period of close monitoring by food safety officers to ensure there was no continuing risk to the public.

The company employed a food safety consultant and officers worked with the business to get it back to the standard required.

However, despite this assistance, the council says the company continued to fail to address all the contraventions, including several structural matters. It also failed to comply with three hygiene improvement notices to agreed timescales.

Halal Catering Supplies was fined £2,000, ordered to pay a contribution towards the prosecution costs of £900 and a £200 surcharge.

The director, Ali Shan, and operations manager, Osman Ali Shan, were both also fined £584, and each ordered to pay a contribution towards the prosecution costs of £900 and a £58 surcharge, having pleaded guilty to the same offences.

Councillor Naheed Mather, cabinet member for culture and greener Kirklees, said: “Any business providing food to the public must prepare it with high levels of hygiene and safety.

“Ultimately, we don’t want the public to get substandard food or food that makes them ill from their local takeaway or restaurant.

“It is important that businesses have a system in place to support them do this, know who their suppliers are, that they do the same and keep records.

“Kirklees Food Safety Officers inspect all premises and take action to hold business owners to account when this doesn’t happen.”