The owner of a Neath Chinese restaurant and take-away, which was found to have been infested by rats, has been fined £1,200 after pleading guilty to breaching 12 food safety laws.
Neath Magistrates Court were told that the Neath Port Talbot Council Environmental Health officers found the Eastern Promise, The Parade, Neath, in a filthy and unhygienic condition during a routine inspection on March 18, 2009 and immediately ordered the owner, Hong Wang, to close the premises.
Neath Port Talbot Council prosecutor Nigel Jones told justices that Environmental Health Officers came across serious cross contamination issues which posed a serious risk to the public, contrary to the Food Hygiene Wales Regulations 2006.
He said that the officers found rat droppings in the food storage room and evidence of gnawing to the door frames.
There was a severe accumulation of oil, grease and food debris on the walls, floors and cooking equipment. Raw meat, poultry and shellfish were being handled and prepared without any effective handwashing and then ready to eat foods were being handled. Surfaces used to prepare ready to eat foods and other parts of the premises were cleaned with dirty cloths.
The food handlers preparing the food had not received any food hygiene training and there was no food safety management system in place indicating poor management.
Defence solicitor Steven Harrett said Mr Wang immediately complied with the notice served by Environmental Health officers and remove the imminent risk to public health.
The business re-opened in April 2009 and has not been a cause for concern.
Mr Wong pleaded guilty to a total of 12 charges and was fined £1,200 £636.81 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. In sentencing the magistrates took into account Mr Wang’s early guilty plea and financial circumstances.
Robert Rees, Head of Housing and Public Protection, said: “We can’t stress enough how important food safety is in our borough, and prosecutions like this help send out a clear message that we won’t tolerate restaurants and food outlets breaking the law and putting the health of the public at risk.
“The council will continue to carry out unannounced visits to food businesses and will take necessary action to safeguard customers’ health.”
