A Newtown business owner has been fined more than £1,900 after being prosecuted by Powys County Council on a series of food hygiene offences.
Mahfuz Raha, the food business operator of Preem on Pool Road, pleaded guilty to nine food hygiene offences at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday).
The prosecution was led by Powys County Council’s Environmental Health Team. The offences were:
- Failing to keep the food premises and food preparation equipment utensils cleaned and in good order and repair
- Failure to ensure that food handling staff maintain an adequate standard of personal hygiene
- Failing to ensure that food is protected from contamination
- Failure to ensure that food handling staff are trained
- Failing to implement a Food Safety Management System
- Failure to register with the Local Authority
- Service of unfit food
The court heard that environmental health officers carried out a re-visit of the inspection in August 2016, where they found unacceptable standards of cleanliness in the kitchen and food storage areas.
The council said food preparation equipment including the food preparation boards and the internal surfaces of the refrigerators were in a dirty condition.
Food handling standards were also poor with food-handling staff failing to wash their hands after handling raw foods. Controls were not in place to prevent cross contamination of foods, with food handling staff seen splashing bloody water onto surfaces, and dirty cloths being used to wipe surfaces.
Controls were not in place to prevent cross contamination of foods, with food handling staff seen splashing bloody water onto surfaces, and dirty cloths being used to wipe surfaces. Mouldy garlic was also found in the refrigerators in the kitchen.
Mr Raha also failed to register as the food business operator with the local authority despite being in control of the business for two years, the council told the court.
Magistrates fined Mr Raha £1,350 for the nine offences and ordered him to pay £500 costs and a £135 victim surcharge.
Paul Griffiths, the council’s Strategic Director for Place, said: “Premises that prepare and serve food to the public have a responsibility to ensure that their premises comply with food hygiene regulations. In this instance the required standards were not met and the action taken by our food safety officers reflects the severity of the conditions found.
“All food business operators should take notice of the penalties they may face when they do not comply with food hygiene regulations.”
Photos: Photographs by Powys County Council environmental health officers who visited the Preem restaurant.
