Food businesses warned after hygiene prosecution

Food businesses must be registered with the local authority and keep hygiene standards up to scratch according to Leeds City Council after a takeaway was fined for filthy conditions.

Leeds magistrates today fined Ali Arshad, director of Chiefs Chicken, a total of £1,600 for eight different food safety offences.

Having pleaded guilty, Arshad was also ordered to pay costs of £1,889 and a £120 victim surcharge.

Environmental health officers inspected the Otley Road premises on 14 July 2015 and found no measures in place to stop food being contaminated, dirty and damaged equipment and no way for staff to hygienically dry their hands after washing.

The shop itself was found to be unclean and in a poor state of repair. There was no written food safety management system for staff to follow nor had staff been properly trained.

The company also failed to register as a food business with Leeds City Council, as it is required to.

Following the inspection Arshad explained that the points raised by inspectors had been dealt with. The business has subsequently closed according to Arshad.

Councillor Mark Dobson, executive member for environmental protection and community safety, said:

“It’s a legal requirement to register your food business with us before you start operating or take over ownership, there is no getting round this fact.

“Once registered, we can ensure you’ve got the necessary policies and processes in place to run your business safely and hygienically.

“Today’s prosecution should serve as a warning to other businesses that there is no excuse or mitigating factors in failing to register with us or putting customers at risk from unhygienic premises or practices.”

Leeds City Council regulates all food businesses in Leeds and environmental health officers regularly inspect restaurants, takeaways and shops to ensure they comply with strict food safety legislation.

The outcome of these inspections is a rating based on the Food Standard Agency’s national food hygiene rating scheme.

You can check ratings at http://ratings.food.gov.uk/.

Businesses can contact the food safety team at Leeds City Council for advice and residents can report any concerns on 0113 247 6286 or food.safety@leeds.gov.uk.

Images from the inspection are available on request.