£4,000 cost of takeaway mouse infestation

A TAKEAWAY owner whose premises were infested with mice has been forced to pay out almost £4,000 in fines and court costs.

Oldham Council successfully prosecuted Mohammed Amin, owner of Raja’s Exotic Balti House, in Milnrow Road, Shaw.

Amin pleaded guilty to seven offences under Regulation 17 of the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 at Oldham Magistrates’ Court.

The bench said Amin had shown total disregard for the health and welfare of his customers and staff.

He was fined £2,500 and was ordered to pay £1,475 costs. There was also a £15 victim surcharge.

The prosecution followed a routine inspection of the business by Senior Environmental Health Officers on May 19.

Officers found extensive mouse infestation and droppings throughout the premises as well as on items such as plastic food takeaway cartons.

Other poor hygiene conditions discovered included cooked chicken being kept in a fridge at 14C when the maximum temperature should be 8C. The rear preparation area was in a poor state of repair, and food and grease had been allowed to build up on walls and floors.

There was no food-safety management system in place and sewage had accumulated in the rear yard. The eaterie was voluntarily closed as there was found to be an imminent risk to health.

The takeaway was only allowed to reopen on May 21 when Senior Environmental Health Officers found the business had been deep cleaned, the sewage dealt with and the mouse droppings removed.

Councillor Mark Alcock, cabinet member for Environment and Infrastructure, said: “Oldham Council’s priority has to be to the safety of our citizens.

“Our environmental health service does its utmost to work with businesses and it is always disappointing when standards fall.”