A chicken shop in South Norwood has been fined after mouse droppings were found and staff failed to understand cross contamination.
AA Chicken World Ltd, located at High Street in South Norwood, was ordered to pay £25,000 as well as a victim surcharge of £10,000 following a guilty plea to food safety offences.
The director, Tharshan Makenthiram, was also fined and ordered to pay a total of £3,827, comprising a fine, costs and a victim surcharge.
During an initial inspection, Croydon Council’s food safety team found the food storage fridge was not clean, food was being stored incorrectly, and the microwave was dirty.
Staff reportedly did not have basic food safety knowledge, Croydon Council has said.
These issues were not resolved in a follow-up visit - when mouse droppings were found on the counter shelves.
There were other ongoing violations including an unclean fridge, unlabelled food and continued misunderstandings about cross contamination.
The business failed to comply with Hygiene Improvement Notices served by the council and the council decided to prosecute.
Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: "Keeping residents safe is a priority and we have a zero-tolerance approach to businesses that put public health at risk.
"Food businesses have a legal responsibility to meet hygiene standards.
"Our food safety team works with businesses to help them improve, but where serious failings are ignored, we will not hesitate to take enforcement action.
"This prosecution sends a clear message – if you fail to comply with food safety laws and put residents at risk, you can expect to face the consequences."
