Food Hygiene | Food Supplier Shut Down
Food Supplier shut down for breaches of Food Hygiene Regulations
A Cannock based meat supplier, which provided meat to in excess of five hundred food outlets across the country, has been shut down by a keen eyed environmental health officer (‘the EHO’).
It was by pure chance that the EHO spotted the director of the supplying company (‘the company’) exiting a property unit situated close to other units from which the company traded.
The EHO knew the appropriate permits to operate a food business from this additional unit were not in place and decided to investigate.
The EHO discovered:
- freezers containing polystyrene trays of both raw and cooked meatballs,
- cabbage rolls containing pork,
- partly cooked raw, minced pork in three crates on the floor.
The EHO had unearthed an illegal food operation with a distribution network spreading from London to Scotland.
A representative from Cannock Chase Environmental Health said;
‘He had no washing facilities in the property and the flooring was filthy, no cleaning products, dirty towels and a wooden bench that looked like an old working bench full of splinters with nailed lino which was his idea of cleansable’.
The company pleaded guilty to three offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations 2013 including the use of unapproved premises, illegal production and the use of false labels.
The company also pleaded guilty to three further offences relating to hygiene standards on the premises.
Magistrates imposed fines and costs totalling £35,720 on the company and £8,143 on the company director.
How We Can Help? | Kangs Health and Safety Solicitors
Kangs Solicitors have a wealth of knowledge and experience in dealing with all matters of environmental health and food hygiene law.
As is clear from the case above, the Courts are not afraid to impose large fines in recognition of the serious threat to public health that illegal operations pose.
Our specialist lawyers are able to provide advice and assistance throughout the entire criminal process.
Who Can I Contact For Help? | Kangs Solicitors
Please feel free to contact our team through either of the lawyers named below who will be happy to provide you with some initial advice and assistance.
Sukhdip Randhawa
srandhawa@kangssolicitors.co.uk
0121 449 9888 | 07989 521210 (24 hour emergency number)
