Stiff fines for flouting Hygiene rules

Mansfield Magistrates ordered Shelu Miah and Gia Kamali, joint proprietors of the Balti Bazaar/Pizza Palace on Station Street Mansfield Woodhouse, to each pay a £475 fine and a £15 Victim surcharge as well as costs of £500 and £550 respectively in a case brought by Mansfield District Council and heard at Mansfield Magistrates' Court on 24 September.

Mr Miah pleaded guilty to failure to comply with a Hygiene Improvement Notice issued by Mansfield District Council under the Food Safety Act 1990/Food Hygiene [England] Regulations, 2006.

Food being prepared at the Balti Bazaar/Pizza Express. The owners, Shelu Miah and Gia Kamali failed to provide written procedures for food hygiene to their staff.

Mr Kamali was found guilty in his absence of the same offence together with failing to comply with an Improvement Notice issued under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.

At the premises, the District Council's Food Safety Officers found food containers with food in stored on the floor and foods in containers without lids were stored on top of each other.

There was mouldy salami to be used as pizza topping found in an open container in the chiller cabinet under other food containers.

Due to the lack of cleaning instruction, several items were dirty including chopping boards ready for use, which were stuck together with mould and slime, and gave off a pungent odour.

Mr Miah, Mr Kamali and their staff had failed to provide evidence issuing of written procedures to ensure that the food prepared met the required food safety standards and the premises were suitably organised.

Councillor Danny McCrossan, Portfolio Holder for Public Protection at Mansfield District Council, commented: "I hope this prosecution sends out a clear message that failing to comply with food hygiene laws is a serious matter."

"Mansfield District Council works closely with all food outlets in the district to promote high standards in hygiene and cleanliness. Mansfield has a high proportion of restaurants and take-aways who maintain good or excellent standards."

"Unfortunately, there are others who do not maintain these standards and, in these cases, the District Council will not hesitate to use enforcement action to ensure that the health of the public is not compromised."