RECENT FOOD SAFETY PROSECUTIONS (2010)

Some of the more interesting recent prosecutions relating to the catering industry:

1. Butcher’s Poor food safety controls

A butcher who failed to check the temperature of cooked meat products and keep his shop clean has pleaded guilty to three food safety offences. 

EHOs found accumulations of dirt, grease and food debris throughout the cooking, preparation and refrigerated areas, on the floor coverings, wall coverings, inside the chillers and on storage units and racking during an unannounced inspection.  They also found that food preparation equipment and utensils were in a dirty condition, presenting a risk of contamination.

There were also deficiencies in the critical food safety records.  Cooked meat products had not been temperature checked as there were no cooking records available for
the day of the inspection.  High-risk foods were being cooled for time periods in excess of the limits specified in the procedures.

Cooked meat pie fillings were being kept at ambient temperature past the time limits and the same pie fillings were being stored past the shelf life set out in his procedures.

The butcher was fined £9,200 for the offences at Welshpool magistrates court. He was also ordered to pay £1,500 costs to Powys County Council and a victim surcharge of £15.

2.  Budgens fined for poor food safety training

An £11,000 fine has been issued to the company behind a Sussex Budgens supermarket after they failed to provide staff with essential food hygiene training.

In addition, the delicatessen counter of the Budgens store was selling mouldy food during a routine inspection.  The staff were not aware of basic food safety concerns, and there were no stock rotation procedures.  EHOs were also concerned about a possible risk of cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods within the hot food preparation area.

The initial visit was in October 08, but a follow up visit in January showed that there had been no improvement.  The company was fined £3,000 for two offences under HACCP regulations and a total of £5,000 for two offences of selling unfit food.