A COVENTRY food business has been fined £3,750.30 for mouse and rat infestation.
Mr Mehmet Turudioglu, the food business operator of Istanbul, 17 Butts, pleaded guilty to five hygiene offences at Birmingham Magistrates Court on July 15.
He was fined £768 and ordered to pay full costs of £2675.30 as well as a victim surcharge of £307.
Food and Safety officers visited the business unannounced for an assessment in February 2023 – the business agreed to voluntarily close as rodent activity in food preparation areas is deemed an imminent risk to health.
After carrying out pest control treatment the business was able to reopen.
Mr Turudioglu pleaded guilty to the following offences: Failure to put in place adequate procedures to control pests, failure to keep the premises clean, failure to ensure the construction of the premises permitted good hygiene practices, including protection against contamination, failure to protect food from contamination, and failure to put in place, implement and maintain procedures based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point principles.
The business was subject to an unannounced inspection again in February 2024 where standards were found to be good and the business maintained its food hygiene rating of 5 (very good).
Davina Blackburn, strategic lead for regulation and communities in the city, said: “We take a staged approach to enforcement and wherever possible, Officers will always try to work with businesses offering advice and guidance where possible but will take the necessary actions if they feel there is a risk to health.
“On this occasion, closing the premises was necessary to ensure consumers were not put at risk, and the business worked with the team to make the necessary changes to reopen the premises as soon as possible.”
