5K fine for UK takeaway

A takeaway which had filthy utensils and dirty floors has been fined after food safety officers found a number of breaches.

Wen Ling Chen, the owner of the South Sea Chinese takeaway in Port Tennant has been hit with fines, costs and charges of almost £5,000.

The South Wales Evening Post reports officers found a filthy, stained chopping board, a tin opener covered in dirt and debris Travel Pictures Ltdon the floor of the takeaway on Port Tennant Road.

He pleaded guilty to 12 breaches of Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006 after inspectors carried out four unannounced visits, three last year and another this year.

Swansea Magistrates’ Court heard in February last year the takeaway agreed a voluntary closure because it had no hot water. It remained shut until a new boiler was fitted.

On the second visit a Hygiene Improvement Notice was issued because of a failure to train staff in food hygiene or have a proper food safety management system.

Magistrates were told that seven of the 12 offences arose from a third visit in September last year, when officers were confronted with large quantities of accumulated food debris on and under cooking ranges, sinks, fridges and floors. They also discovered dirty food preparation equipment and fixtures and fittings were not effectively cleaned, inadequately cooked rice and inadequately-thawed pork ribs.

They found similar issues in March this year and brought five further charges.