Denbighshire’s Food Safety team is warning food businesses in the county that having unhygienic conditions in their premises simply will not be tolerated and court action will be taken against those that fail to clean up their act.
The warning comes after the council secured two successful food hygiene prosecutions at Denbigh Magistrates Court on 25 October.
Mr Tudur Wyn Jones & Mr Glyn Alwyn Jones Joint Owners/Operators of W.G Jones Butchers of Ruthin pleaded guilty to six offences contrary to the Food Safety Act 1990 and one offence contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and were given a total joint fine of £6,044. The offences were:
1. Failing to ensure that articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were effectively cleaned and where necessary disinfected;
2. Failing to maintain food premises in a clean and good condition;
3. Failing to ensure washbasins were supplied with hot water and failing to provide materials for cleaning of hands and suitable hygienic hand drying facilities.
4. Failing to ensure that there was a food safety management system, based on HACCP principles, in place.
5. Failing to ensure that the premises were clean and in good condition due to the fact that there was an accumulation of dirt, food debris and food spillages in many areas of food preparation and storage.
6. Failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served to ensure washbasins were supplied with hot water.
7. Failing to comply with an Improvement Notice served to ensure floor surfaces are free from tripping hazards.
Mr Gouda Chen, the owner / operator of the New Welcome House Chinese Takeaway, Meliden pleaded guilty to five offences contrary to the Food Safety Act 1990,and was fined a total of £2,481. The offences were:
1. Failing to ensure that articles, fittings and equipment coming into contact with food were effectively cleaned and where necessary disinfected.
2. Failing to maintain the food premises in a clean and good condition.
3. Failing to ensure washbasins were supplied with a permanent supply of hot water.
4. Failing to ensure a food safety management system was in place, which would have implemented control measures or established documents and records commensurate with the nature and size of the business.
5. Failing to ensure premises were clean and in good condition due to the fact that there was an accumulation of dirt, food debris and food spillages in many areas of food preparation and storage.
A spokesman for Denbighshire said: “We are extremely satisfied with the outcome of the cases against these two businesses.
“The majority of food businesses in Denbighshire do comply with strict hygiene regulations and the number of business representatives that attended a recent food safety seminar showed how important they take their responsibilities.
“However, the council will not tolerate any business that prepares food for consumers not reaching the standards required and will take the necessary enforcement.
“Both these businesses had been served with improvement notices in the past, but they failed to comply with the warnings and the council had no option but to bring these two cases before the court. The council takes no pleasure in taking this kind of action, but in the interest of food safety, it will take the necessary action.”
Denbighshire’s Food Safety and Health and Safety Team aims to ensure that all food produced, imported or distributed in Denbighshire is safe to eat and complies with food safety legislation. This is achieved through inspection, education, training, advice, enforcement and investigation of complaints.
Earlier this month, the council joined the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, a UK-wide scheme initiative developed between the Food Standards Agency (FSA), food businesses, local authorities and other related organisations.
The chief purpose of the scheme is to allow consumers to make informed choices about the places in which they eat out and from which they purchase food, and through this, to encourage businesses to improve hygiene standards.
