Middlesbrough takeaway owner fined over hygiene breaches
The owner of a Middlesbrough takeaway has been hit with a hefty court fine after inspectors found serious hygiene breaches which posed a risk to public health.
When Environmental Health Officers from Middlesbrough Council’s Public Protection Service visited Lorenzo Pizzeria on June 14 last year, they discovered poor standards of cleanliness and evidence of a widespread mouse infestation.
A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served on owner Manuela Totoi requiring her to close the Cumberland Road takeaway with immediate effect.
She was not allowed to reopen the business until a further food hygiene assessment had been carried out to satisfy Environmental Health that effective pest treatment and prevention measures had been carried out and the premises thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
Middlesbrough Council’s Head of Public Protection Judith Hedgley said: “Rodents carry disease and their presence in any food business creates a serious health risk.
“This is why food business operators must ensure that their premises are kept clean and free from pests at all times.
“The closure of this business was necessary to protect public health and it remained shut for seven days.”
Appearing before Teesside Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (January 3), Manuela Totoi pleaded guilty to four offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 – failing to ensure adequate procedures in place to control pests, failing to keep the premises clean, failing to ensure food was protected from contamination and failing to register her ownership of the food business with Middlesbrough Council.
She was fined £548 and ordered to pay £648 in costs plus a £54 victim surcharge.
Councillor Julia Rostron, Middlesbrough Council’s Executive Member for Adult Health and Social Care, said: “The vast majority of food businesses in Middlesbrough are well managed, operated hygienically and achieve the top food hygiene rating.
“The Council’s Environmental Health Officers work closely with food businesses to ensure good standards are maintained.
“However, their primary responsibility is to protect consumer safety and therefore if poor standards of hygiene are found in any food business in Middlesbrough, they must take prompt enforcement action and this could also lead to a prosecution and substantial penalties.”