Rat infestation sees sandwich manufacturer prosecuted

THE owner of a sandwich making business has been prosecuted for the “filthy” and rat-infested conditions at its Deli Sensi manufacturing sites.

Batley businessman Mohammed Patel, managing director of the Deli Sensi group, pleaded guilty to 17 food hygiene offences at Leeds Crown Court this week.

Deli Sensi, based at the Bretton Street Enterprise Centre in Dewsbury with a secondary site on Field Lane in Batley, was taken to court by Kirklees Council.

Authorities shut down the Batley premises due to a rat infestation in the food production area in October 2015 – inspectors found rat droppings (pictured below).

Investigators said the place was in a “filthy” condition, with no hot water on site and a serious risk of cross contamination.

The Bretton Street premises was inspected in January 2016 and officers found that there were inadequate temperature controls of high risk foods and incorrect labelling of sandwich use by dates.

At both locations, Mr Patel was lambasted for a lack of training for staff, no food safety management systems, having unsuitable delivery vehicles for transportation and providing false or misleading information.

The case is due for sentencing at Leeds Crown Court on 4 November 2016.