Rats on counters, mouse droppings on floor and rotting food – inside filthy Manchester takeaway shut by inspectors
Owner of fast food joint hit with a bill of nearly £3,000 after being hauled before courts
HYGIENE inspectors called to a fast food joint after a customer complained they had seen a rat were so disgusted with what they found they shut it down immediately.
Environmental health officers discovered filthy equipment, rotting food and mouse droppings throughout Central Takeaway in Salford, Gtr Manchester.
Its owner has now been hit with a bill of nearly £3,000 after being hauled before the courts.
Shahzad Akthar was found guilty of four food safety and hygiene offences at Manchester and Salford Magistrates’ Court.
He was fined £1,080 and ordered to pay costs of £1,627 and a victim surcharge of £100.
The court heard officers visited the shop on November 5 last year following the rat complaint.
They found a “clear and active” mouse infestation with significant amounts of droppings throughout the premises, made worse by large amounts of food on the floor and gaps in walls and doors, giving mice access to food.
The council said it was clear the takeaway had not been properly cleaned for some time.
Officers found rotting food on surfaces and equipment, grease and old food stuck to shelves near the kebab machine, and old grub on the inside of fridges.
The ice cream server and equipment were so dirty there was scum on the surface of the liquid.
Raw chicken had been washed in a dirty sink and then dipped in dirty water; blood and food waste including old pizza dough was left lying around; and a raw meat chopping board was on top of the salad chopping board. Both were kept behind a sink in a pool of filthy water.
Staff said they used a shower cleaning product to clean work surfaces and had little knowledge of how to store food at the correct temperatures.
Officers revisited the shop the next day to ensure it remained closed until staff training was undertaken, cleaning was done and food safety documentation improved.
Speaking after the case, David Lancaster, the council’s lead member for environment and community safety, said: “We’ve seen cases elsewhere in the country where poor food hygiene has led to people dying.
“It’s not something to cut corners on and ignore. The person who reported this takeaway absolutely did the right thing.
“Most food businesses in Salford do understand the risks and work hard to keep their premises clean and safe. For those who don’t, we can and will take action like this. Keeping people safe is our top priority.”
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