A delicatessen in Tolworth has pleaded guilty to failing food hygiene standards at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court.

SMAK on Tolworth Broadway received a zero rating under the National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme and was served hygiene improvement notices.

During their inspection, environmental protection officers found chicken and pork stored at the wrong temperature, ready meals sold beyond their use by dates, and a lack of food hygiene training for staff.

Environmental protection officers seized over 15kg of unwrapped and pre-packed ready to eat foods being sold at a discounted price that were beyond their ‘use by’ dates.

Cross contamination was also found, with ready to eat unwrapped meats displayed in direct contact with raw unwrapped sausages.

Cooked chicken and pork was on display for sale at 23.4°C, with the legal limit for storing these types of food being 8°C.

The owner Violetta Semyonova has been fined £500 and ordered to pay £3,300 towards council costs.

Councillor Dave Ryder-Mills, portfolio holder for regulatory services, said: “Kingston Council takes breaches of food safety law very seriously and our environmental protection officers will continue to inspect food businesses throughout the borough to ensure that they reach the high standards of hygiene that we all expect to find.”