Former owner of Wirral takeaway fined for food hygiene offences (From Wirral Globe)

Former owner of Wirral takeaway fined for food hygiene offences

12:01pm Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News

THE former owner of a Wirral takeaway has been fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to a series of offences relating to food safety.

Wirral Magistrates Court imposed the fine, plus costs of £2,172, on Amy Wu, former owner of the Greasby Takeaway.

It followed a visit by Wirral Council Food Safety Officers to the premises in Greasby Road, Greasby, in July last year after receiving complaints about cleanliness.

During the inspection they found mouse droppings in the main food preparation areas.

Open cooked food was stored on the floors and on work surfaces exposing it to the risk of contamination and the floors, walls, ceiling and equipment were in a grease encrusted and dirty condition.

The officers considered there to be an imminent risk to health at the premises and the owner of the takeaway volunteered to close until the imminent risk to health was removed.

Amy Wu, who stated she no longer operates the business, pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations relating to the cleanliness of the fridges, floors, wash hand basin, staff toilet and chopping block.

The offences were listed as; failure to control pests in that there was evidence of mouse activity, mouse droppings in food rooms and poor pest proofing; failure to protect food against contamination because uncovered food was being left out in rooms in which pest activity had taken place and high risk food was being stored at room temperature; failure to register her business; failure to put in place a food safety management system.

Councillor Brian Kenny, Wirral cabinet member for environment, said: "The conditions in these premises posed a serious risk to public health.

"Officers prefer to work with businesses and give them help, advice, support and guidance to ensure that they comply with food safety laws, however we will not hesitate to take enforcement action when unacceptable conditions are discovered.

"The public should continue to report concerns to us and our Environmental Health staff will investigate and take all appropriate action."