Rat infestation 'health risk' at Coventry food warehouse results in £20k fine - The Coventry Observer

Rat infestation 'health risk' at Coventry food warehouse results in £20k fine

Coventry Editorial 3rd Jul, 2018 Updated: 3rd Jul, 2018   0

AN ‘EXTENSIVE’ rat infestation was discovered at a Coventry food warehouse which has now been fined more than £20,000 for putting ‘people’s health at risk’.

Coventry City Council food officers discovered rat droppings on food and drink items and the ‘stench of rodent urine’ at the Malpol Food Warehouse, of Unit 4, Marshbrook Close, Alderman’s Green Industrial Estate, on a visit to the facilities in March 17 last year.

The council said officers could see grease, rodent hairs and evidence of chewed food while there was no hot water or cleaning materials on site.

The company was given a total penalty of £21,790 by Coventry Magistrates Court on Monday, June 25.




This encompassed a £5,000 fine for each of the four offences and instructions to pay £1,020 investigatory costs and £600 legal costs alongside a £170 victim surcharge.

It was found to be in breach of four Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the Hygiene of Foodstuffs.


This included the failure to keep the premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition as well as failure to ensure layout, design, construction and the size of the food premises permits good food hygiene practices.

But the most serious charges were in relation to a failure to protect food from contamination and put in place adequate procedures to control pests.

Coun Patricia Hetherton, the council’s chair of the licensing and regulatory committee, said: “We all trust that when we buy food that’s been packaged or prepared before it reaches us that it’s been done in a clean and safe environment.

“Malpol Foods breached this consumer trust and put people at risk by failing in their duty to keep their premises clean and free of pests by operating around a massive infestation and not providing any means to clean.

“The severity of these breaches is reflected by the large fine that was issued in court – I hope this serves as a reminder to all food companies that we take our investigative duties very seriously and will prosecute those that fail to do their duty to protect consumers.”

Officers made the decision to close the site with immediate effect and stop the business trading.

The council says the business closed voluntarily and paperwork was issued to the Food Business Operator (FBO) detailing the work required before the business would be allowed to reopen.

Officers returned to the premises on 24 March 2017 at the request of the FBO to evaluate rat activity and to check if required improvements such as cleaning and pest proofing had been completed.

Improvements had been made and the business has since reopened.

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