A food business, which made chicken kebabs in a “literal building site”, is facing a £22,000 bill over a string of health violations.
Xpress Food UK was found to have breached multiple hygiene regulations following a hearing at Bolton Magistrates’ Court.
Bolton Council’s Environmental Health Officers first visited the business following an anonymous complaint. An inspection report described a state of ongoing construction work. The court heard that chicken kebabs were being made in an unclean environment, then placed in packaging displaying an invalid approval number.
Following the court hearing, Xpress Food UK was prosecuted for numerous offences, including failure to keep the food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition, and failure to provide an adequate number of wash hand basins with hot and cold running water, materials for cleaning hands and for hygienic drying.
The firm was fined £16,000 and ordered to pay £6,592 in costs together with a £170 victim surcharge.
Magistrates also imposed an open-ended prohibition on Suleman Patel, banning him indefinitely from managing any food business.
Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Environmental Regulatory Services, Councillor Anne Galloway, told the Bolton News: “This business put public safety at risk by producing unsafe food in unacceptable conditions.
“Xpress Food moved to Bolton after its previous site had its approval withdrawn and this result shows that this council will not tolerate poor hygiene standards.
“Not only does this case serve as a deterrent to other firms that flout the law, but it is an excellent example of the hard work that goes into ensuring that the food that reaches our shops and restaurants is safe to eat.”