Darlington Chinese restaurant owner fined after staff used filthy TOILET as an office
A CHINESE takeaway owner has been fined £8,000 after hygiene inspectors discovered staff were using a filth-encrusted toilet as an office.
Jie Zhao's restaurant had 33 food hygiene hazards
The health and safety officers found a desk and computer located directly alongside the toilet – which doubled as an office chair.
The computer keyboard was deemed to be so dirty it was “virtually untouchable” and stood close to a mop and old storage pot which was being used as a bucket.
The shock discovery was one of 33 food hygiene hazards discovered during a raid on the Little Fat Buddha restaurant in Darlington.
Inspectors discovered that dirty chopping boards had been used to prepare food, ingredients were kept in dirty containers and the filthy floor was described as a major hazard.
The health and safety officers found a desk and computer located directly alongside the toilet
Dirty: the floor was considered to be a major health hazard
Owner Jie Zhao, 40, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with food and hygiene regulations following the examination of his premises.
The examination concluded the kitchen was dirty and could pose a health risk to customers.
The takeaway dropped to a level one food hygiene rating after the visit in February.
Zhao spoke only to confirm her personal details during the hearing at Darlington Magistrates’ Court
Filthy: this hob was used to prepare food
The stained manager's door
Darlington Magistrates heard that Zhao, director of Yates Zhao Ltd, was fined £1,400 for hygiene offences five years ago.
But after making improvements at the premises, standards had once again slipped.
Not hygienic: a filthy bin
Yvonne Wood, prosecuting for Darlington Borough Council, said: “Health officer, Brian Whelan, carried out a food hygiene inspection on February 2 this year.
“Mr Whelan carried out a food safety inspection and in particular he noticed the premises and equipment were not kept clean as required.
“The staff had poor awareness of food hygiene and in some cases, they had not been trained at all.”
According to the prosecution, the staff had poor awareness of food hygiene
The defendant fell far short of the appropriate standard
Inspectors found that food been kept warm in the kitchen for up to five hours before serving and that dirty and damaged cooking equipment was being used.
Ms Wood added: “The defendant said she only visits the shop to make a delivery and the last time she had been inspected, the toilet was being used as staff office and there was also a computer in there.
“The defendant fell far short of the appropriate standard.”
Dirty and damaged cooking equipment was being used.
Zhao spoke only to confirm her personal details during the hearing at Darlington Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday afternoon.
Alan Devine, mitigating, said: “At the time, Mrs Zhao was heavily pregnant she turned up on February 3 and saw Mr Whelan and tried to straighten out what had happened.
“For a number of months, she had been unable to visit the property as much as she would have liked.
Inspectors found that food been kept warm in the kitchen for up to five hours before serving
The Little Fat Buddha in Darlington
“There was a manager employed there to oversee things but steps have been taken about this and he’s no longer the manager, but he’s working in the premises.”
The takeaway, serving a range of Asian dishes, has been based at the site in the Cockerton area of the town for around five years.
Zhao was ordered to pay £8,607 in fines and costs.