These pictures show why an Indian restaurant owner has been banned from managing a food business and has been made to pay more than £24,000 in court.
Riaz ul Hassan Sabir appeared at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, April 14, for sentencing after admitting eight food safety offences.
He was made to pay £24,122 in fines and costs in relation to the breaches of hygiene regulations.
The court heard Croydon Council’s food safety inspectors visited Mirch Masala, in London Road, Norbury, on four separate occasions from October 2013 to last September.
Each time they visited they found problems including thick, congealed food debris on the door handle of the walk-in fridge, a dense layer of grease and congealed food around the door seal and filthy walls.
Uncovered food was stored immediately beneath the dirty, stained and damaged chiller motor unit and food was stored in dirty containers on the floor.
Food was stored in dirty plastic containers
There were also issues with the freezers, unwashed cleaning cloths, dirty cooking equipment and layers of congealed food on work surfaces.
Inspectors found the owner had failed to introduce a regime of safe preparation and handling, and cleaning of equipment, walls and floors.
During the last visit, in September, the inspectors were told Sabir was no longer involved in the restaurant and that Adil Murad Khan was the new owner.
The council officers discovered this was not true and that Sabir still owned the premises and had been the owner throughout the period of the inspections.
They also found that the conditions had not really improved and decided to take steps to prosecute him.
The walk-in fridge had a dirty door, seals and handle
The council’s executive director for place, Jo Negrini, said: "It almost beggars belief that in this day and age, with knowledge of the need for exemplary food hygiene more widespread than it’s ever been, a restaurateur is prepared to allow his establishment to sink to these appalling depths, despite repeated warnings.
"He took a cavalier attitude toward hygiene and food safety, and ultimately put his customers’ health at risk.
"Our food safety team has shown dogged determination in bringing this case to court and securing a prosecution that should act as a stark warning to all premises serving food to the public."
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