Inspectors found fridge set at 19C

Oldham Council has successfully prosecuted the owner of a takeaway after the premises were found to be dirty and unhygienic. The case was brought against Luckman Ali after officers from the Environmental Health Department visited Mirchi Massala, Middleton Road, Westwood, Oldham on October 26, 2011.

A Westwood takeaway had fridges that were warm, clogged sinks and surfaces covered in grease, magistrates heard.

In October 2011, hygiene inspectors found a fridge set to 19 degrees centigrade - 11 degrees higher than recommended. The fridge was filled with food debris, had rusty shelves and surfaces encrusted with dirt.

The council inspectors also found dirty chopping boards; lettuce clogging plug holes; foul drains; cracked floor tiles and broken tiles above a food preparation area. The floor wsa covered in grease and old food.

Mohammed Luckman Ali (21) and his brother took over the Mirchi Massala restaurant in Middleton Road, Westwood in August, 2011 and put £15,000 into the business. They were told the restaurant had previously won a high star-rating for food hygiene.

But details of previous inspections showed the filthy conditions were present earlier in 2011 under the previous owners.

On a second inspection in December Ali, of Fort William, Scotland, accepted responsibility for the poor hygiene. He and his employees have since undertaken a clean-up.

Ali pleaded guilty to eight charges under food hygiene laws and was given a conditional discharge for 18 months, with costs of £1,385.