Sweet centres leave a sour taste
Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date published: 15 January 2014
A rat greeted shocked environmental health officers as they inspected a filthy local takeaway, Oldham Magistrates heard yesterday.
The council team found a dead cockroach, and mouse and rat droppings on the floor, fridges, cleaning cloths and food preparation areas including inside the pizza oven and on a preparation area, at Sweet Palace in Waterloo Street, Glodwick.
Magistrates were told none of the staff were wearing protective clothing or aprons when environmental health officers visited on August 19. Fridges were dirty inside and damaged, with cracks in the doors. An extractor fan was broken.
The food processor was dirty and there was no separate sink for staff to wash their hands.
Staff told inspectors the infestation was due to uncollected rubbish at the back of the shop.
The shop was ordered closed immediately, with all food discarded and a deep-clean ordered.
Three days later inspectors found the premises much improved.
Nadeem Hussain, who has owned the business for 13 years but was in Pakistan during the inspection, pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to comply with regulations. Mr Hussain said he was ashamed at the state of the shop at the time of the inspection. Oldham magistrates referred the case to Manchester Crown Court
Chair of the bench Graham Eckershall said: “We don’t believe the infestation happened overnight, we believe it was building up for some time. You left someone else in charge and the extent of the infestation is our main concern.”
Magistrates also heard about an official visit to Aysha Sweet Centre in Lees Road, Clarksfield five days later.
Owner Mohammed Akram pleaded guilty to eight charges of failing to comply with regulations and was fined £2,400. He must also pay £1,575 in costs to Oldham Council.
Officers found filthy pots and pans and an open back door hich led to lots of flies buzzing around. Fridge doors were greasy and the extractor canopy dirty.
Mr Akram — who has owned and managed the takeaway since 2005 — said he had been away for 10 days in Pakistan for his aunt’s funeral and was ashamed at the state his staff had let the shop get into. Since the inspection, Mr Akram has sacked all but one of his employees and taken on new staff with full hygiene training.
