Telford Indian takeaway where cat roamed premises fined £2,800 over hygiene offences
An Indian takeaway in Telford where a cat was allowed to roam around preparation and storage areas was today fined £2,800 .
Owners of the Mint Indian Takeaway, in Trench, admitted four food hygiene charges earlier this month, and were handed a fine at Shrewsbury Crown Court today.
The court heard how a cat that was allowed to roam freely around food preparation and storage areas, how the premises had dirty and damaged floors and ceilings, and a dirty equipment and refrigerator.
Those were some of the findings of a food hygiene inspection of Mint (Telford) Ltd, known as Mint Indian Takeaway in Trench Road, Telford on 28 February this year.
Inspectors also found there was no hot water at the hand wash basin in the staff toilet and no hygienic way of being able to dry hands at the hand wash basin in the kitchen, which was being used to store dirty utensils.
The owners of the takeaway, which has ceased trading, was fined £2,800 after pleading guilty to four charges.
They included allowing access to a domestic animal, failing to ensure that food premises were clean and well maintained, failing to ensure that articles and equipment were clean and disinfected, failing to provide facilities for washing and drying hands.
Councillor Richard Overton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for enforcement, said: “This is why we carry out food hygiene inspections. Every year our inspectors make hundreds of visits of premises that handle and serve food to ensure that the food the public buy and eat is safe.
"I am glad to say that many of those inspections result in a top score of 5 but, where there are problems, they are identified and dealt with. The most serious of cases, such as this, result in court action.
“We have the safety of the public at heart and it is important they are confident that, wherever they choose to eat, whether it’s eat-in or take-out, that food is stored, handled and prepared safely and hygienically.”
