Chinese takeaway FINED for hygiene offences that posed 'SERIOUS threat' to public health
A FILTHY Chinese takeaway restaurant has been fined £10,000 for hygiene offences described as some of "the worst" ever seen.
The Chinese takeaway committed 13 serious hygiene offences
Can Can Chinese takeaway was prosecuted for committing 13 food hygiene offences and posing a “serious threat to public health”.
Disgusting images show the state the restaurant in Wickford, Essex, was in with raw meat being placed on top of lettuce and greasy containers used as food scoops.
The horrendous pictures also show floors covered with grime and a filthy sink filled with dirty containers while out of date food was being kept in the fridge.
A council spokesman said: “The kitchen was coated with food debris, grime and grease. Raw meat, a high-risk product, was being stored next to ready-to-eat food.
“Cooked chicken was out of temperature control and out-of-date food was found in the chiller.”
The restaurant had already been given food hygiene advice and sent several warning letters following earlier inspections.
Chicken was cook out of temperature and out-of-date food was found
The kitchen was coated with food debris
Staff had also been using dirty tea towels to dry hands and food containers were broken and dirty increasing the chances of bacterial contamination and fragments of plastic being found in food.
The extraction system filters were also clogged with grease significantly increasing the risk of fire, a council spokesman said.
The owner Sheng Kiang, 44, was fined £500 for each offence as well as a victim surcharge of £50 at Basildon Magistrates' Court on August 24.
Raw meat was being stored next to read-to-eat products
The conditions were some of the worst the inspectors had ever seen
He also has to pay full costs of £3,844 to the Basildon Council.
Councillor Richard Moore, Basildon Council cabinet member for planning, said: “The council is eager to support businesses and does not bring prosecutions lightly, but this was an extreme case and the council acted in the interest of the health of residents and visitors."
A council spokesman said improvements were being made and another inspection would take place in the coming weeks to reassess the business and its food hygiene rating.